Ecological restoration increasingly involves the reclamation or relocation of stream channels, particularly in suburban areas where increased storm water runoff makes these efforts particularly challenging. There are few plant communities where species selection for restoration is more critical than these flowing water situations. Species selected for streambank restoration must be able to tolerate significant periods of inundation during flood events, be able to spread by rhizomes to colonize sediment, and have tenacious roots to hold themselves in place against the current. While the periphery of these stabilization projects in areas that are infrequently inundated may be restored through the use of a floodplain seed mix sown under erosion control blanket, areas in constant contact with flowing water should be planted with live plugs under blanket, pre vegetated coir rolls or other reinforced solutions for immediate stabilization. As with all ecological restoration, observation of what native plants thrive in similar natural conditions is the best guide to successful species selection.
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