Golf courses, like most outdoor recreation facilities, can be highly compatible with restoring and maintaining natural stream corridors. Riparian corridors, normally including most of the floodplain, are complex ecosystems that require a balance among several factors: hydrology, geomorphology and biology. In layman's terms, that's water, ground and plant and animal life.

Photo 1: Streambanks are part of a complex riparian ecosystem.

If we remove all these components from a stream, by building a concrete channel, for example, we are left with a lifeless waterway, which is not aesthetically appealing, nor environmentally friendly. Unfortunately, a typical natural stream corridor, which in most climate zones includes trees and shrubs, is not always compatible with outdoor recreation, such as golf, which requires some open spaces.

Photo 2: Grass mowed to the streambank often begins unsightly erosion.

In Photo 1, we see a course with a beautiful vista of snow-capped mountains. However, to have that vista and allow for low drives across the stream in the foreground, all the trees and shrubs were removed from the stream corridor. Not only does this destroy the riparian ecosystem and detract from the visual appeal, but it also opens the door for severe erosion of the streambank soils. Other courses want an English garden look with grass mowed down to the water's edge (Photo 2) again removing the protection that deep-rooted vegetation provides from erosion.

Photo 3: Streambank rocks and plantings can prevent erosion, stop unnecessary mowing and provide æsthetic appeal.

However, streambanks can be maintained with vegetation and/or "hard" materials which simultaneously promote a natural ecosystem and allow for the activities on a golf course. In Photo 3 wildflowers and shrubs have been planted among some large rocks to be both aesthetically pleasing and erosion-resistant. Where needed for visibility or ball flight, the shrub varieties can be selected from among those with a naturally low-growing height (e.g., chokeberry, silky dogwood, dwarf willow and spirea) or can be pruned to maintain a specific height. (For a complete list with applications, see NRCS's Streambank and Shoreline Protection at http://www.info.usda.gov/CED/ftp/CED/EFH-Ch16.pdf)

Photo 4: Rootwads stabilize the streambank while letting riparian shrubs to establish.

In areas where rock is difficult to obtain, large woody material, such as rootwads, can be installed in streambanks to resist erosion along with grasses or until live woody vegetation can be established. Photo 4 shows rootwads, constructed of two logs (one with the rootball still attached) and buried into the streambank (to prevent floating away). Low shrubs have been planted between the rootwads to re-establish woody vegetation.

Photo 5: Soil-bioengineering after three years provides riparian cover and hides a rock toe.

Although shrubs can be planted from rooted cuttings or nursery stock, soil-bioengineering uses "unrooted" cuttings of species, such as willows and red-osier dogwood, to establish woody shrubs along the streambank. During dormancy, live-stakes or whips of the plant stems can be inserted into the streambank at very low per-unit costs. Within a couple of years, as seen in Photo 5 lush vegetation will provide good riparian cover, and even hide rocks, among which cuttings can be planted.