Wholesale removal of riparian vegetation by mechanical means in the 1930s left this 3.5 mile stretch of the upper San Juan River in an unstable condition. Decades later, the river had not achieved any stability, and emergent riparian vegetation was not able to establish. The client’s vision included full restoration of a single thread channel, an active floodplain, riffle/ pool structure in the river, and re-establishment of a wide riparian vegetation corridor. Riverbend designed a stream restoration to meet this vision. The River channel has been re-shaped to re-establish an appropriate meander pattern. Rock structures provide bank stability and encourage pool formation. Riparian vegetation transplant work has continued for several years. “Before” photo shows the unstable, braided river system; and the “After” photos shows how the river channel has been re-shaped to re-establish an appropriate meander pattern. Rock structures provide bank stability and encourage pool formation. Riparian vegetation transplant work has continued for several years.
