Soil bioengineering can mitigate streambank erosion or enhance other designs by stabilizing the soil. Streambank soil bioengineering is defined as “the use of living and nonliving plant materials in combination with natural and synthetic support materials for slope stabilization, erosion reduction, and vegetative establishment” (USDA, 2007).

 

This method has many benefits, such as reinforcing the soil with roots, dissipating wave energy, enhancing water filtration, and decreasing high-water velocities (USDA, 2007).

 

Soil bioengineering is most beneficial on sites with steep slopes and it can be used even if the site has low accessibility to heavy machinery (USDA, 2007). This is because various plant roots are used to stabilize the steep banks after they are harvested and transplanted onto the desired bank (USDA, 2007).

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Decision Matrices Results:

 

Dublin Hollow site: 2.77 / 5.0

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Dam site: 3.27 / 5.0

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Pros:

1.  Good habitat potential

2. Inexpensive

3. Decent wave protection

    at Dam site

4. Decent life span