Shoreline Restoration

There are many reasons to consider restoring creeks and streams on your property and many ways to get started. The simplest ways is to plant trees and shrubs that will have immediate and long lasting efforts on the health of the stream and the wildlife that lives there.

SCD Staff Lindsay Chutas and Charlie Peterson executed a huge construction project with Todd Nelson of Timberlake Industries to increase river access to paddlers, anglers and other river users while supporting river stewardship including protecting wildlife habitat, shorelines, and water quality.

The first Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP) implementation project was installed at the Placzek property on a tributary of Dartford Creek in North Spokane County. The landowner was concerned with the erosion of his streambank and seeking advice to help naturally slow the erosion, as well as improve his wildlife and riparian habitat to a stream bank that currently has no riparian or upland vegetation. The land on the north bank side of the property is leased to a farmer who currently participates in the RCPP program and grows canola on the property. SCD installed a 50-foot wide riparian buffer, with a variety of native plants found mimicking the forest adjacent to the property. Cumulatively, 800 potted stock plants and 600 willow whips were planted with the goal of reducing erosion and repairing the riparian habitat.