What to Do About an Eroding Stream in the Backyard

Rainwater from impervious surfaces such as backyard patios increases runoff reaching your stream.


Backyard streams can be an attractive addition to your landscape, but without proper stabilization, the banks of a stream will erode over time. Erosion typically occurs due to channelization, which shortens and straightens the stream channel. Increased storm water runoff, which is typically caused by the addition of impervious surfaces to the land, such as pavement and roofs, also causes erosion. To correct the problem, you must stabilize the banks of your stream.

Live Stakes

Homeowners can stabilize backyard stream banks by installing live stakes, which are live branch cuttings from trees that thrive in water. River birch (Betula nigra) is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9, and California bay laurel (Umbellularia californica) is hardy in USDA zones 7 through 10. Shrubs such as pacific blackberry (Rubus ursinus), which is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 9, and western spice bush (Calycanthus occidentalis), which is hardy in zones 7 through 10, also thrive along stream banks. Use cuttings about one-quarter to one-half-inch in diameter and at least 2 feet long. Hammer them into the ground along the water’s edge, where they typically begin to take hold in the soil after one season.

Riparian Buffer

In addition to stabilizing your stream bank, you need to prevent future erosion. To do this, you can add a wide riparian buffer, which is a strip of vegetation along the stream bank that extends slightly beyond the upper edges. Riparian buffers typically include deep-rooted native grasses, flowers, shrubs and trees. Ideally, the upper edges of your buffer include woody plants, such as trees and shrubs, and grasses and herbaceous plant species are planted along the bank, closest to the water.

Stones, Boards and Concrete

Stone rip rap, which is large stones, railroad ties or concrete, have been used to shore up eroding stream banks, but are not a long-term solution. While the addition of these elements appears to solve the problem initially, they do not stabilize the stream bank properly. As water hits the material along the banks, it gains speed and is more likely to cause erosion to adjacent areas. These materials also require more maintenance, as they may move away from the bank and down into the stream.

Preventing Stream Erosion

Once you’ve stabilized your stream, there are several ways you can prevent future erosion. Never mow to the edge of your stream, but allow a buffer to develop. Don’t dump grass clippings or yard waste into the stream, which can narrow the banks and cause the water to run faster. Avoid trying to change the course of the stream or shoring up the banks with rocks or other materials. Avoid using riding mowers and other heavy lawn equipment within 10 feet of your stream and keep structures at least 25 feet from the banks, as the weight of the structures and equipment may cause the banks to crumble. If you prefer not to have trees or shrubs along the stream bank, plant native grasses that reach 2 to 3 feet tall. If you want a path leading to the stream, mow a narrow strip and line the path with wood chips or other soft materials that will soak up moisture.

About the Author

Renee Miller


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