Eroded riverbank along the Nashwaak gets a 'natural' shoring up

A stretch of land along the Nashwaak River that's been washing away with each spring flood is being restored by a conservation group.

The Nashwaak Watershed Association began work this week on the 40 metres of riverbank at Nashwaak Valley Farm in Penniac,about 10 kilometres northeast of Fredericton.

Mike Sorenson owns the land and says ice jams and spring floods have taken a toll.

"As the banks eroded, a big oak tree fell in the river," Sorensonsaid.

The fence line for the pasture could eventually wash away, he said, but his big concern isthe fish habitat in the river.

"The erosion puts sediment in the river and it's bad for the fish. So that's the biggest issue for me."

Jill Hudgins is leading the project with the watershed association. She's hoping the repairs will stop the erosion and prevent pollution from streaming into the water.

Hudgins saidthe group is using a less traditional, more natural approach to fix the riverbank.

Instead of building avertical rock wall, it'screatinga slope on the bank, whichwill have trees and shrubs on the top, as well asa rock base.

"It allows the native vegetation to take hold and provide habitat for animals and allows recruitment ofother native vegetation as well."

Hudgins saidit's a more natural-looking repair, and the trees and shrubs on top of the slope will help prevent pollution and erosion into the river.

"So that vegetation is really important for holding the soil in place and also filtering the water before it enters the Nashwaak," Hudgins said. "And filtering out a lot of those pollutants that could harm fish and other aquatic life as well."

Hudgins hopes thisapproach will have the same success as it has had on other parts of the Nashwaak.

In 2017, a similar methodwas used to repair part of the river in theMarysville area of Fredericton. Hudgins saidthose repairs have held up.

"It's totally blending in with the natural bank that was there on on either side."

"It's recruited a lot of other natural vegetation that we didn't plant it's come there by seed or animals have brought it."

The project is funded publicly and privately funded and is expected to cost around $20,000.