Erosion of streambanks presents an imminent threat to many recreational properties. Often this threat is realized via loss of large sections of property along outside bends of streams and rivers. In other instances, sediment resultant from erosion adversely affects a resident wild trout fishery by degrading spawning and invertebrate production habitat.

No two streams are alike, but many share certain problems and characteristics. For example, all streams are products of the land they drain, and their waters reflect streamside land management practices, good and poor. Much can be done to protect clean streams and restore damaged ones. Since most streams originate on private lands, their fate depends largely on wise management by streamside landowners.

Each year, millions of tons of fertile topsoil, washed from "disturbed" areas (freshly turned fields, over-grazed pasture, logged forest lands, roadways, trails, and construction sites) fill in and clog our streams. Even "undisturbed" forest lands or ungrazed pastures lose about 400 pounds per acre per year of rich topsoil.

No one wins when valuable topsoil is flushed into streams. We all pay higher water, sewage, and electricity bills, as well as higher taxes for bridge construction, road repairs, flood relief, flood control, and water treatment when sediments fill stream channels. Erosion of productive farm and forest lands contributes to the higher cost of food and lumber products.

As fine soil sediments drop to the stream bottom, they blanket spawning grounds, smother fish eggs, suffocate fish-food insects, bury oxygen-producing plants, and clog the gills of sportfish. Muddy waters block sunlight, reducing oxygen production and the ability of gamefish to see and capture prey. Soil sediments pave stream bottoms, filling in pools and riffles, and thereby reduce sportfish habitat.

Rock riprap is the most common and effective way to stabilize eroding streambanks, especially at stream bends. Rock riprap is a lining or pile of natural stone placed along streambanks. Construction of riprap barriers is simple. A load of rocks is clumped over the streambank and sometimes rearranged by hand to avoid leaving large rocks jutting out into the stream channel that create counter currents (eddy currents) that cause washouts.

Keeping soil on the land and out of streams is one of the best ways to protect water quality and sportfish. It's much easier and cheaper to keep soil on the land than to remove it from streams. Some ways to control erosion include: