Lower Icicle Creek - Bioengineering

Lower Icicle creek flows into the Wenatchee River and through the town of Leavenworth, WA. Aside from a large hatchery upstream, conditions for salmon are less than ideal due to lack of riparian cover, low channel complexity, and frequent public use. Here is a shot of an eroding back along a channel bend where the vegetation and forest was cleared all the way to the top of bank that is now contributed lots of fine sediment in the river. Normally, riparian vegetation would roughen up the bank and stabilize soil with roots.

Hopefully with some bio-engineering techniques and planting parties this site will look a whole lot different in 5-years.