Brush Mattresses for Streambank Erosion Control

摘要

A brush mattress is a layer (mattress) of interlaced live branches placed on a bank face, often with a live fascine and/or rock at the base. The live branches are cut from any adventitiously sprouting (sprouts roots from stems) woody plant, such as willow and some species of shrub dogwood and alder. The mattress and the live fascines are held in place with wire or twine, live stakes, and dead stout stakes. A brush mattress, with a live fascine and/or rock at its toe, is used along the face of an eroding bank and acts principally to armor the bank (Figure 1 a-c). The brush mattress has the potential to immediately slow velocities along the bank and accumulate sediment. Together with the sprouting plants, the brush mattress develops a strong network of interlocking roots and plant stems.