Conservation, Education & Community Interaction since 1977

Initial Restoration and Riparian Establishment (2024).

HRAA began restoration activities on the property through extensive native tree and shrub planting in the upper portion of the site. This initial work sought to re-establish vegetation within historically disturbed riparian areas, improve soil stability and begin restoring the natural buffer between surrounding land uses and the watercourse. It also provided an opportunity to develop a working relationship with the landowner, demonstrate HRAA's restoration capabilities and establish the cooperation necessary to advance more substantial bank stabilization activities. This landowner relationship became particularly important as the project progressed from relatively straightforward planting activities to complex in-stream and streambank construction.

Phase 1: Rock-Based Bank Stabilization (2024-2025).

The first major structural restoration phase involved stabilizing more than 100 metres of severely eroding streambank through the installation of rock toe protection and graded rock materials. This work was undertaken along a comparatively straight section of Salt Springs Brook, where the landowner preferred a conventional stabilization approach. Rock was strategically placed along vulnerable sections of the bank to provide immediate resistance to erosive flows, reduce undercutting at the bank toe and prevent further progressive failure of exposed soils.

Protecting the bank toe is particularly important because erosion at the base of a streambank can undermine the material above it, eventually causing large sections to collapse into the watercourse. By reinforcing this vulnerable area, the first phase sought to interrupt the cycle of toe scour, bank failure and downstream sediment transport. Although rock-based stabilization is an effective method of protecting exposed banks, it does not necessarily provide the same diversity of aquatic habitat features as naturally occurring woody material. The successful completion of this initial phase therefore provided an opportunity for HRAA to advance a more ecologically integrated approach in subsequent restoration work.

Phases 2 and 3: Root-Wad Bioengineering and Habitat Enhancement (2025-2026).

Building upon the earlier structural stabilization, HRAA progressed to its most technically complex restoration activities, starting in 2025 and completion in 2026, incorporating large root-wad revetments as the principal method of stabilizing additional eroding banks. Root-wad stabilization was specifically selected because it offers the opportunity to address two critical conservation objectives simultaneously: protecting vulnerable streambanks from continued erosion while creating complex, functional fish habitat within the channel.

A root wad consists of a substantial section of tree trunk with its large root mass still attached. During installation, the trunk is secured within the reconstructed streambank while the exposed root structure extends outward toward the watercourse. The trunk is keyed into the bank and supported by anchoring materials, footer logs and strategically placed rocked in crib work, with bank regrading, backfilling, erosion-control fabrics and brush-based measures. Unlike conventional continuous rock armouring, which primarily provides a protective surface, root-wad revetments introduce the physical characteristics of large woody material naturally found within healthy river systems.

The ecological and hydraulic benefits of these structures are particularly relevant to Atlantic salmon. As water encounters the complex root mass, the flow is redirected around and through the structure, increasing localized hydraulic roughness and creating areas of reduced water velocity. This can lessen the direct erosive force exerted against vulnerable bank material while producing small pockets of slower-moving water, current breaks and sheltered areas immediately adjacent to the structure. These hydraulic refuges are important for juvenile Atlantic salmon, particularly fry and parr, which must balance access to drifting food organisms with the energetic demands of maintaining position in flowing water.

The root masses also introduce a level of structural complexity that would otherwise be absent from a bare, eroding bank. Interlaced roots and woody material can provide overhead cover and refuge from predators, while creating a variety of small-scale habitats for aquatic invertebrates. These invertebrates represent an important component of juvenile salmon diets, meaning that appropriately placed woody structures may contribute to both habitat availability and local feeding opportunities. The resulting diversity of current velocities, cover and substrate interactions more closely resembles the heterogeneous conditions found in naturally functioning salmon streams.

Another important consideration was the long-term sustainability of the restoration. Root-wad revetments combine immediate structural protection with the opportunity to establish living vegetation throughout the reconstructed bank. Although the installed root wads themselves function as anchored woody structures rather than living trees, native shrubs, live stakes and riparian plantings will develop new root systems within the surrounding soil. Over time, this vegetation can improve near-surface soil cohesion, intercept overland runoff, provide additional shading and contribute organic material to the aquatic ecosystem. The objective is to establish a progressively more resilient, vegetated streambank rather than rely exclusively upon hard engineering materials.

This approach was especially appropriate for Salt Springs Brook because reducing sediment production and improving physical habitat complexity are complementary conservation priorities. Stabilizing actively eroding banks should help reduce the local supply of fine sediment entering downstream spawning and rearing habitats, while the installed root masses provide opportunities for additional fish cover within the restored reach. The anticipated biological benefits will be evaluated through continued habitat monitoring rather than assumed solely from the completion of construction.

The scale and complexity of the 2025-2026 work represented a significant expansion of HRAA's restoration capabilities. The project required careful construction sequencing, excavation and preparation of bank material, transportation and positioning of substantial woody structures, secure anchoring, erosion-control measures and coordination with contractors and regulatory authorities. Work was undertaken during suitable low-water conditions to reduce potential impacts on fish and fish habitat, with sediment-containment measures deployed to minimize the movement of disturbed material into the brook. Given that excessive sedimentation was one of the principal threats being addressed, preventing additional sediment release during construction was itself a critical restoration responsibility. All root wads were extensively pressure-washed prior to installation, to ensure that no additional sediment was being introduced into the watercourse. Silt fencing surrounding excavation activities assisted in ensuring no sediment deposition into the watercourse, and a silt boom was anchored directly into the watercourse to further prevent sediment transport.

Upon completion of heavy equipment operations, HRAA and our volunteers began intense riparian plantings. These plantings are essential to the project's broader salmon conservation objectives. As vegetation matures, root systems can reinforce bank soils and improve infiltration, while developing canopy cover can reduce direct solar heating of the watercourse. Cooler water temperatures are particularly important for Atlantic salmon and brook trout, whose habitat suitability can decline during warm summer conditions. Vegetated riparian buffers can also intercept sediment and nutrients transported through surface runoff, supporting water quality and reducing additional pressures on spawning and juvenile-rearing habitats.

HRAA also incorporated soil investigations into the restoration program, with the 2025 work placing particular emphasis on soil bulk density, soil-carbon assessment, and soil chemistry to determine suitable native tree selection. Understanding soil compaction, organic matter and related physical conditions can help explain differences in vegetation establishment and inform future restoration practices. These assessments are particularly valuable on historically disturbed agricultural lands, where soil conditions may continue to influence drainage, rooting depth and plant survival long after agricultural activities have ceased.

Once all native trees were planted, the HRAA and volunteers heavily grass seeded the exposed soil area at both Phase 2 and Phase 3 locations and covered the seed with a very thick layer of hay to ensure proper seed germination. At the Phase 3 site, intact haybales were anchored into the bank using rebar stakes along the brush mattress and will remain in place until the grass seed has fully established. Additionally, intensive willow staking throughout the brush mattress section will ensure that the site naturally regenerates once the brush mattress has decomposed.