Hi everyone!
It’s been so interesting reading all your posts and seeing the photos of erosion and the LTPBR techniques you’ve already implemented.
Trudy and Holly, that Zuni bowl is beautiful! Holly Harper, the proposed restoration on Cottonwood Creek looks fascinating. Holly Suchy, I’m sorry to hear that your rockdowns were blown out—I hope you can still incorporate the materials in your rebuild. It’s so hard to predict the force of water.
I just moved to the Polson area from Arlee, MT, and I can definitely relate to digging into rocky soil—even finding places to pound t-posts was frustrating. I can’t imagine trying to install live willow without damaging them.
I don’t currently have a small-scale erosion project to write about, so I’ll have to learn vicariously through you all. On that note, if anyone would like an extra pair of hands to haul rock, install willow, etc., I would love to help and be part of one of your LTPBR projects!
I hope to implement these types of projects as I/we (FWP and CSKT) engage with more landowners on water conservation strategies as the irrigation season gets closer. I’ve also reached out to our restoration program to see if there are smaller-scale projects they’ve identified that I might be able to champion, so maybe by the next post I’ll have a project to share.
One larger-scale project our restoration program is currently working on is the Bison Reach range project, which created a new channel for the Jocko River to greatly reduce erosion caused by the straightening of the channel against an eroding side hill. While this is outside the scope of LTPBR, it’s the most current example I could think of. It mitigates erosion, reconnects the Jocko with its former floodplain, and creates beautiful habitat for a healthier river: https://csktwatercompact.com/bison-range-reach-restoration/
And Judy, I also hope we get snow soon! But that huge dose of sunshine was such a needed break from the grey inversion that has been hovering for months. I’m also curious about the answer regarding the type of tree for restoration in relation to drought. And, unfortunately, I wasn’t able to download your photos for your project.
It’s been so fun to read about all your projects and see the creativity and effort everyone is putting into erosion control.