The Slit Brush Layering Method

THIS METHOD IS A DAVE DERRICK DISCOVERY (DDD)

SLIT BRUSH LAYERING (SBL) - BANK REVEGETATION: SBL replaces the more intrusive Brush Layering (total bank deconstruction, then rebuilt with layers of adventitious unrooted live poles between layers of semi-compacted soil). With SBL the track hoe bucket digs into the bank at a steep angle, lifts a few inches, live poles are inserted into the slit, then bucket pulls out & packs soil with back of bucket.

Bioengineering & “Funnel” Strategy Nichols Road Bridge, Onondaga Creek, NY A completed project needed some “tweaking” and veg. Top bank stone was removed the week before. All planting occurred on Tuesday May 15, 2007.

Onondaga Nichol Road Bridge, LaFayette, NY – project planted THE PLANT MATERIALS

Onondaga Nichol Road Bridge, LaFayette, NY – project planted Red Osier Dogwood from the NRCS Plant Material Center in Big Flats, NY. Pix by Derrick

Onondaga Nichol Road Bridge, LaFayette, NY – project planted Streamco Willows were harvested when dormant & frozen until installation. Pix by Derrick

Onondaga Nichol Road Bridge, LaFayette, NY – project planted Soaking the plant materials. Pix by Derrick

Onondaga Nichol Road Bridge, LaFayette, NY – project planted LAYOUT & PLAN A project goal was to quickly & densely revegetate the left descending bank of Onondaga Creek upstream of the county bridge. A minimal stone toe was already in place. Dormant unrooted live poles (Streamco Willow, Redosier Dogwood, & Sycamore) were deep-planted with a track hoe.

Blue lines denote water’s edge at base flow Sketch from Mark Schaub bar Nichol Road Bridge

Several dozen Black Willow & Red Osier Dogwood live poles were planted using the Slit Brush Layering bioengineering method. Two 60 ft long rows were installed on the left descending bank of Onondaga Creek (denoted by the red lines ).

Onondaga Nichol Road Bridge, LaFayette, NY – project planted Two rows of Slit Brush Layering will be located along the black lines. Pix by Derrick

Onondaga Nichol Road Bridge, LaFayette, NY – project planted TWO LAYERS OF “SLIT” BRUSH LAYERING

Onondaga Nichol Road Bridge, LaFayette, NY – project planted Clearly communicate with the operator what exactly needs to be done. Pix by James Bennett

Onondaga Nichol Road Bridge, LaFayette, NY – project planted Hoe bucket digs 2-3 ft into the bank at a steep angle, lifts a few inches, then live unrooted poles are placed in the slit at a rate of 3 poles per ft. Pix by James Bennett This is almost a Live Siltation retrofit above an existing stone toe.

Onondaga Nichol Road Bridge, LaFayette, NY – project planted Derrick inserting the Streamco Willow poles into the slit. Pix by Kathy Blaisure

Onondaga Nichol Road Bridge, LaFayette, NY – project planted First Slit Brush Layer (willow) in place, second layer (willow, dogwood, Sycamore) being installed. Pix by Derrick

Onondaga Nichol Road Bridge, LaFayette, NY – project planted Installing second layer of Brush Layering (willow, dogwood, sycamore mix). Pix by Derrick

Onondaga Nichol Road Bridge, LaFayette, NY – project planted Looking US at both layers of completed Slit Brush Layering. Upper bank loose & rough so rain water will soak in (shallow groundwater) & not form rills. Pix by Bill Frederick

Onondaga Nichol Road Bridge, LaFayette, NY – project planted Looking US at both layers of Slit Brush Layering. Great hydraulic roughness. Pix by Bill Frederick

Onondaga Creek-Year 2 July 10, Looking at Slit Brush Layering. Pix by Derrick

Onondaga Creek-Year 2 July 10, Looking at Slit Brush Layering. Fantastic growth for 30 minutes of work!! Pix by Derrick

2 YEARS & 1 MONTH AFTER PROJECT COMPLETION Photos by Derrick JUNE 18, 2009

2 YEARS & 1 MONTH LATER-Left bank & overbank vegetation is robust & lush & fully functioning. Slit Brush Layering is between arrows. 2 YEARS & 1 MONTH LATER-Onondaga Nichol Rd Bridge-DERRICK

2 YEARS & 1 MONTH left bank Slit Brush Layering. Vegetation is robust & lush & fully functioning. Red Osier Dogwood is dominating the Slit Brush Layering on the bank 2 YEARS & 1 MONTH LATER-Onondaga Nichol Rd Bridge-DERRICK

2 YEARS & 1 MONTH LATER-Looking 2 rows of Slit Brush Layering. First year was all willow, then dogwood dominated (took it a year to put down roots). All Sycamore died. 2 YEARS & 1 MONTH LATER-Onondaga Nichol Rd Bridge-DERRICK

Site – soil conditions are not ideal. Fill soil is a clay fragipan, when dry is like concrete. (Extremely dry summer -2007) Slit Brush Layering Willow – med mortality, decent growth, not very tall. Slit Brush Layering Red Osier Dogwood – low to medium mortality-dominating with lush growth. Slit Brush Layering Sycamore – high mortality, few if any survived RESULTS AFTER 2 GROWING SEASONS-From Mark Schaub

This PowerPoint presentation was developed & built by Dave Derrick. Any questions or comments, call my personal , or Enjoy the information!!

CLEOPHUS SPEED ELVIS DERRICK, AT REST It’s time to relax and watch the project grow even more {The Luxury of Time}