Dust Control – Soil Stabilization – Erosion Control

Posts Tagged ‘riparian areas’

A conservation talk on managing riparian areas alongside lakes and waterways turned into a public forum on saving the Dead Horse Creek.

The question and answer session following the formal presentations January 14 focused almost entirely on the concerns of Morden landowners adjacent to the creek.

Residents who see areas of the creek bank steadily being eroded and collapsing, and taking trees and property with it, were looking for an idea of what’s being done and what more can be done.

“It’s going to need a lot of regeneration,” commented one landowner at the meeting sponsored by the regional arm of Christian conservation group A Rocha Canada.

The formal part of the meeting began with Marilena Kowalchuk of the Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation explaining the basics of riparian areas, and Cliff Greenfield of the Pembina Valley Conservation District speaking on the Dead Horse Creek.

One landowner then addressed the meeting with a concern about the difficulty in finding more comprehensive information on what can be done to address issues along the creek. He suggested more action is needed to not only stabilize the creek bank but also make it more attractive.

Another landowner suggested erosion has already been allowed to progress too far in places, noting a 10 foot drop on the creek bank near her property which she fears may soon take a mature 65 foot tree from her yard.

The residents collectively suggested they needed more information on such areas as what varieties of plants would work best for strengthening the bank.

“I don’t know if it’s really that well known what works and what doesn’t,” noted Greenfield. “We hope to do trial projects and hopefully find out more.”

Another resident suggested the town needed to look at working with landowners on an individual basis to help better address each one’s particular circumstances and locations.

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