By early September, the first portion of the project was hydro-seeded using conservation seed mix and cellulose mulch. Hydro-seeding provides  a fast and effective method for establishing stabilizing vegetation.

To promote rapid establishment of the initial seeding, the District is using a traveler type irrigation system. With 850 feet of 2.5 inch hose, this irrigation system can water large sections of the project area while minimizing the manpower and time required for irrigation set up.

Within a couple of weeks, the site was looking much better as the grass germinated, and the brown moonscape that we dealt with for weeks gave way to green grass.  Initially, the seeding does not look very "natural", but appearances improve as the legume species in the Conservation Mix as well as weeds and other vegetation become established.

In mid-October, Fastracs and GCSWCD staff returned to the site to undertake planting of dormant willow stock.  This fall, over 4,000 linear feet of Willow fascines, 4,000 linear feet of brush layering, 1,500 willow posts and over 1,900 willow stakes were planted by the contractor. In the photos below, brush layering can be seen sticking from the banks at the top of the rock and cross vanes. 

After the Contractor has completed the plantings on the immediate streambank, the GCSWCD initiated work to establish vegetation on the extensive floodplain constructed during the project.  On some sections of the stream, the GCSWCD used Red Osier Dogwood transplants from our plant material center as well as Streamco Willow, Red Osier & Silky Dogwood and Hybrid Poplar seedlings from the NYSDEC Tree Nursery.

We then used our hydro-seeder to "touch-up" areas which were disturbed during the planting process.  A re-seeding will be undertaken again in the spring to insure effective coverage of the disturbed areas.