North Stirrup Run Restoration
North Stirrup Run is located in Harford County, MD and is a tributary to Deer Creek. This project was accomplished through partnership with the Harford Soil Conservation District and with funding from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund. Prior to restoration the stream showed significant signs of accelerated bed and bank erosion as well as meander migration. Potential causes of degradation to the channel originate from long term flow regime change and a lack of riparian and streambank vegetation. The stream was also exhibiting signs of significant damage from livestock accessing the stream at multiple locations. Approximately 2,600 linear feet of North Stirrup Run was re-aligned to a more stable planform according to natural channel design concepts. Salvaged materials were incorporated within the restoration of North Stirrup Run. That included brush, sod, root wads, and stream material. A naturally sinuous stream pattern was designed to allow access to the existing floodplain and to add diversity to the system while creating habitat within riffles and pools. To achieve this, the floodplain was lowered through legacy sediment removal methodology to allow for rooting depths to reach groundwater. Structural stabilization measures included installing toewood along proposed meanders to add roughness, thus reducing shear stress and installing woody riffles for grade control. PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
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Severe erosion of streambanks from bank sloughing leading to decreased floodplain connectivity.
Grading of stream banks during construction.
Completed restoration showing installed toewood features and bank vegetation.
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