View of South (Left) bank, note fresh erosion as meander undergoes lateral adjustments.

The Maier Farm Demonstration Site was the first restoration project conducted under the Batavia Kill Stream Corridor Management Pilot Project.  Initial assessments of the project began in the summer of 1997 with the placement of monitoring cross sections and surveys of key morphological features.

The Maier Farm  site  presented a classic C4 type stream which was undergoing active changes in its channel geometry. In several places along the project reach, down valley meander migration was causing significant bank erosion.  Erosion losses totaled over 20 feet per year. 

This type of instability is common in the flatter part of the Batavia Kill.  Instability is generally attributed to a number of known or suspected factors including past channelization activities, development of flood control structures in the watershed and a corresponding change in the streams hydrology and sediment relationships as well as the loss of effective riparian vegetation. 

When developing a final restoration design, the GCSWCD was presented with several interesting  factors which had to be addressed. First, the project has a somewhat limited belt width in which  to work due to the presence of a driving range and active farm fields. Second, the design had to address an old private bridge on the downstream limit of the project reach, which is divided into two separate cells with a large center pier in the middle. The bridge was in a very serious state of deterioation, and neither of the bridge openings were adequate to handle the bankfull flow. 

Another limitation to the project was the lack of good reference reaches for C type channels in this area.  The Project design team used historical aerial photos, typical values developed by Dave Rosgen and others, as well as measurements of morphological features taken from smaller stable stream reaches of the same type.  The project objectives were, to develop a stable channel morphology and to utilize rock structures and vegetation to protect the streambanks from excessive erosion.

The final design included the development of a stable channel geometry, channel cross section and streambed profile for a C4 stream type. The design also included the construction of various rock structures to reduce shear stress on the outer streambanks.  Planting of live fascines and live posts were used to stabilize the streambanks.  The following table summarizes the design features of the project.

View of North (Right) bank, note incorrect channel geometry and erosion along streambanks.

View of Left bank, note erosion of high bank as channel seeks to adjust meander geometry .

View of bridge at downstream limit. Note two openings separated by large center pier.

Shown under bankfull conditions, note eroded streambank exposed to the flow on Left Bank.