Streambank erosion is a very different kind of bank robbery.
In this robbery, moving water digs into the streambank, busting soil loose. Sometimes, huge chunks of soil will fall into the water like an avalanche of dirt. Streambank erosion robs the bank of valuable soil.
Streambank erosion happens when rivers and streams can’t handle all of the runoff water moving into it from the land. If the stream is too narrow to carry this extra water, the water will cut into the banks, making the stream wider.
One way to reduce streambank erosion is to plant certain types of trees on the bank. The tree roots hold the soil together. You can also line the bank with rocks to help keep the soil in place.
Stream water takes big bites out of a bank. This is called streambank erosion.
Photo: U of I College of ACES-ITCS
If you plant “willow posts” on a streambank, they can help to hold the soil together.
Photo: U of I College of ACES-ITCS