Landowner Streambank Repair and Dam Removal
Is a stream on your property eroding into itself, especially after large rain events? Maybe the stream is getting wider and its banks steeper? Alternatively, is there a manmade dam on your property creating a pond or stagnating a stream’s flow? If this sounds familiar, your streambank may be in need of repair.
Landowners located anywhere in the Cumberland River basin may qualify for fully funded stream restoration or dam removal projects if they have:
- One mile or more of degraded stream, and/or
- An unwanted or failing manmade dam on their land
If you’re located in Davidson County, the Compact can provide you with a free streambank repair consultation, even if your stream segment is too short to qualify for project funding. We’ll assess the health of your stream and help connect you with resources to reduce erosion, restore habitat, and protect your land.
Ready to see what’s possible for your property? Fill out the form below and the Compact will follow up with more information.
The Streambank Repair Process
Generally, streambank repair follows these four steps:
- Gently regrade the banks
- Seed native grasses and wildflowers
- Lay down a protective covering to shield seeds and seedlings
- Plant trees or install live stakes—cuttings from native tree species that will take root and anchor your soil
In some cases, restoring a stream’s health may also involve first removing obsolete dams to reconnect the stream to its natural flow.
What Are the Benefits?
An unhealthy stream can cause problems for you, your neighbors, and people downstream. When a streambank erodes, you lose land, which washes downstream as sediment. Stagnant water (like you might find behind a small dam) can encourage mosquito breeding, algal growth, and the buildup of quicksand-like mud.
Repairing your stream—or removing an unstable dam—has many benefits:
- Flowering plants and pollinator habitat add aesthetic value to your property
- Root systems reduce erosion and minimize polluted runoff, including sediment, fertilizer, and pesticides
- A riparian buffer (strip of vegetation alongside a stream or river) costs less to maintain than turf—no mowing, watering, or fertilizing required
- Trees cool stormwater runoff and shade streams, benefiting aquatic species
- Restored stream flow reduces pests, algae, and muddy, unstable pond edges
- Healthy waterways provide habitat for wildlife such as butterflies, hummingbirds, frogs, and dragonflies
Streambank Repair Interest Form
Complete the form below if you own a small stream experiencing bank erosion and would like to receive more information.