East Canyon Creek is widening and has low stream flows This leads to warm, shallow water that cannot support the native cold water fish. It’s important to do what we can to help the stream keep its shape!

Old Christmas trees can be used as streambank “revetments.” They help slow the flow of water, encourage sedimentation , and provide an anchor for streambanks.

First, volunteers place the trees on the grass above the streambank in specific locations where the streambank is eroding rapidly.

Meanwhile, other volunteers are working on other parts of the project including preparing the hardware that will be used to anchor the trees.

Now, the volunteers are ready to start securing the old christmas trees into the streambank using soil anchors, like those seen in this volunteer’s hand.

Attaching the anchors to the Christmas trees.

Next, it is time for volunteers to drive these anchors deep into the streambank using a long metal rod.

At the end of the day, eroding streambanks have conifer revetments securely attached to them. This will help to narrow the stream in future years, improving water quality and habitat for our native fish and wildlife.