Chapter 10

creek revegetation
and erosion control
Judy Frankenberg
Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre,
CRC for Freshwater Ecology,
Thurgoona, NSW.

NTRODUCTION
I
The streams of the South West Slopes region are
generally in a very degraded condition. Typically both
the stream channel and the banks have a very low
diversity of plants. In many cases there will be very
few or no locally native species present. This is
particularly the case for the smaller streams, which

(J. Frankenberg)
may be seasonal or ephemeral, and for a large part of
the year are reduced to a string of pools or are dry.
Figure 1. Creekbank protected by Common Reed
While the larger streams will often have a fringe of
(Phragmites australis), Silver Wattle (Acacia
trees, the understorey is usually deficient in locally
dealbata), Weeping Grass (Microlaena stipoides)
native species. The banks of the streams are also
and River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis).
frequently eroded and the streams are deepening or
silting up.

of the stream to adjust to the new conditions. Many

STREAMSIDE VEGETATION
Healthy diverse streamside (riparian) vegetation can
improve the environment of the stream and of the
surrounding land. Vegetation will improve water
quality by filtering the water, and by reducing or
preventing bank erosion. The aquatic habitat also
benefits from shading, food supply and from woody
debris, which provides shelter and living space for
aquatic animals. Riparian vegetation also provides
shade and shelter for the surrounding land, and is
important for many terrestrial animals and birds in a
cleared landscape (see Figure 1).
STREAMSIDE DEGRADATION
Erosion of stream banks can be caused by loss of
vegetation or by changes in the flow of the water. A
stable stream is in balance with the flow, and if the
amount of water, or the rate at which it moves,
changes, there will often be erosion of the banks or bed
streams eroded and changed their shape soon after
settlement. This was a response to the clearing of trees
in the catchment and grazing which reduced the
amount of ground cover vegetation and increased the
rate of run-off.
Many streams are now relatively stable, having
reached a new balance, but some are still eroding,
because of the lack of vegetation on the banks, so that
the soil has no protection from high flow. In some
streams, a new phase of erosion is beginning, possibly
because of increasingly saline water, which changes
the soil structure and makes the bed and banks more
erodible. Even the stable streams are still in a very
degraded condition, with very poor aquatic and
riparian habitat.
The main cause of the degradation of stream bank
vegetation today is grazing. Streams, particularly those

Page 2 Page 47
Chapter 10
which are tree lined, are very attractive to stock, and
they suffer far greater impact than the rest of the
paddock as the stock use the stream for shade, shelter
and water. The heavy grazing pressure and trampling
keep stream banks bare and exposed, so that they can
be easily eroded by high flows.
STREAMSIDE RESTORATION
Increasing the density of the vegetation on the banks
and in the stream will make most streams more stable,
and will reduce erosion. In some cases, particularly if
the stream is deepening, vegetation will not be enough,
and some extra works may be needed to stop the
erosion. This work should ideally be done before
revegetation. Advice is available from the Department
of Land and Water Conservation.
The most important step in restoring the riparian
habitat of a stream is to fence. It is not essential to
exclude stock permanently, but it is essential to control
grazing. The next most important step is the design of
the fencing, particularly the width of the fencing. A
single row of trees will provide very little diversity and
habitat to a stream. It is better than nothing but only
just. The wider the fenced corridor, the more effective
it will be as a buffer for the stream, to filter the water,
and as riparian habitat with good diversity. If the
fenced area is wide, up to 30 metres, management can
become easier. It can be used as a small paddock, and,
once the planted trees are large enough, it can
(I. Davidson)
Figure 2. Creekbank protected by Common Reed
(Phragmites australis), River Bottlebrush
(Callistemon sieberi), Weeping Grass (Microlaena
stipoides), Tussock Grass (Poa species) and River
Red Gum (E. camaldulensis).
Page 48
occasionally be grazed for short periods, without
causing damage.
THE USE OF WILLOWS
One traditional way of revegetating and stabilising a
stream is to plant willows (Salix species). This initially
can be very effective in stopping erosion, and
providing shade for stock. However many serious
problems have now been recognised where willows
have been used.
Willows are not native, and are very different from
locally native species in many ways. They are
deciduous, and not many native insects eat them. This
is partly why they grow so well, compared to native
trees which provide food and shelter to many leaf-
eating insects. This may seem an advantage, as
willows generally look healthy and grow quickly. It is
not an advantage for insect-eating birds however, as
there is no food supply on a willow, and a willow-lined
stream will support only a fraction of the diversity of
birds which live along a stream lined with red gums, or
other eucalypts in higher rainfall areas. Willows don’t
form many hollows in their branches, unlike red gums,
and therefore hollow nesting birds, such as kingfishers
and parrots, bats and possums, generally cannot breed
or shelter in willows.
The quality of the leaves is also very different for the
aquatic animals. Most fish, like birds, eat insects that
live for part of their life cycle in water (for instance,
dragonflies). Willow leaves are soft, and are all shed in
autumn. Red gum leaves are tough and fall mostly in
summer. The aquatic insects and other animals are
adapted to red gum leaf fall patterns.
Willows can be initially very effective at preventing
erosion in a stream. Their root systems smother the
banks and bed of the stream and trap silt. This can then
become a problem, as the stream loses capacity, and
floods can increase as the stream becomes blocked
with roots. The deep holes which allow fish to survive
periods of low or no flow can also disappear. A lot of
money is now being spent on removing willows from
Page 1
 Chapter 10

small streams because of the way they choke the Common Spike rush Eleocharis acuta
stream. Water Couch Paspalum distichum
Tussock Grass Poa labillardieri
Finally, willows cast a very heavy shade during the Sedge Carex appressa
summer. This prevents the growth of understorey Sedge Carex tereticaulis
plants, and it is almost impossible to maintain diverse Common reed Phragmites australis
locally native vegetation in combination with willows. Native Mint Mentha species
The bare ground under willows provides poor animal Cumbungi Typha orientalis
habitat and little or no filter to improve water quality Narrow-leaf Cumbungi Typha domingensis
in the stream.
Aquatic plants* which may occur in the stream:
Pondweed Potamogeton tricarinatus
STREAMSIDE REVEGETATION
Milfoil Myriophyllum species
Revegetation of streams should be based on locally
Water Ribbons Triglochin procerum
native species, with a mixture of trees and shrubs. In
the higher rainfall areas, where streams are generally * most of the above species are described in detail in
permanent, or flow for a considerable period of the Part Three of this Guide.
year, there are often distinctive riparian species, which
Unfortunately stream banks are often prone to weed
occur only or mainly on stream banks. In the drier
infestation and it will always be necessary to do some
areas, where streams are seasonal or ephemeral, the
weed (and fox) control. Once the trees and shrubs are
natural vegetation along the stream may be a reflection
well enough established, crash grazing can sometimes
of the higher nutrient status of the stream banks rather
be appropriate to assist with weed and fox
than the increased supply of water. The species may
management.
not be very different from those growing on the good
soil flats away from the stream. Species selection
should be based on these species, and the general REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
native vegetation profiles provided in this guide. Breckwoldt, R. 1983, Wildlife in the home paddock.
Nature conservation for Australian farmers, Angus &
Natural regeneration is the best way to revegetate
Robertson, Sydney.
streamsides, particularly if there are remnant trees and
Department of Water Resources, 1992, ‘Buffer Zones
shrubs nearby. Often, even if trees are present, there is
along Creeks and Rivers’, Riverwise advisory notes for
no remnant understorey. Replanting locally native
landholders, Department of Water Resources, NSW.
shrubs is then recommended.
Harrison, B. 1993, ‘Tree planting for erosion control’,
The sedges and rushes which grow along streams will in D. Race (ed.), Agroforestry. Trees for productive
generally appear naturally within a few years once the farming, Agmedia, Melbourne.
grazing has been removed. There may initially be a Mussared, D. 1997, Living on Floodplains, The
strong growth of weeds in the absence of stock. Cooperative Research Centre for Freshwater Ecology,
Depending on the species, these may gradually be The Murray-Darling Basin Commission.
replaced by native species, particularly once the trees
Sainty, G.R. & Jacobs, S.W.L. 1994, Waterplants in
and shrubs begin to mature.
Australia. A Field Guide, 3rd edn, Sainty & Associates,
Rushes, sedges and grasses which may occur along Darlinghurst.
streams in the area* include: Sainty, G.R. & Jacobs, S.W.L. 1994, Waterplants of
Rushes Juncus species New South Wales, Water Resources Commission New
Umbrella Sedges Cyperus species South Wales, Lakemba.

Page 2 Page 49