Bill Burton's Bad Bank EarthCache

For this EarthCache, you will examine two sections of shoreline at Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park with a focus on bank erosion. From a safe distance, you’ll make observations to assess the extent of erosion, identify the measures being used to control it, and evaluate whether those methods are effective.

LOGGING REQUIREMENTS

In order to log this EarthCache, send me your answers to the following questions either through email or messaging from my profile page.

At the posted coordinates,

1: What signs of bank erosion do you see here?

2: Is anything being done to prevent the bank erosion?

3a: Estimate the height of the bank from the surface of the water to the trail you're standing on.

3b: Estimate how far in the undercut is. Do this from a safe distance and off to the side.

4: What hazard do you think this can present to hikers?

From the "Reinforcement" waypoint,

5a: What type of prevention, if any, is being used along the shore?

5a: Do you think it is working? Why?

6: Post a pic of you or a signature item from the posted coordinates with the bay in the background. You don't need to include your face in the pic if you don't want to. You can also send me the pic through messenger if you don't want to post it with your log.

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BILL BURTON FISHING PIER STATE PARK

Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park covers about 25 acres, divided between Talbot County and Dorchester County on opposite sides of the Choptank River. The Talbot County portion—home to this EarthCache—features roughly one mile of trails and a one-mile pier.

WHY HERE?

Bill Burton Fishing Pier sits along the Choptank River, the largest river on the Delmarva Peninsula and a major tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. The river is influenced by the Bay’s tides, which are semi-diurnal, meaning high tide occurs about every 12 hours and 25 minutes, and move inland as a long wave from the Atlantic Ocean. These tides not only raise and lower water levels but also generate strong horizontal water movement. Along with the river’s natural flow and tidal fluctuations, the area is occasionally impacted by tropical storms and experiences a direct hurricane strike roughly every 15 to 20 years. Together, these forces strongly shape and affect the riverbanks in this region.

BANK EROSION

Bank erosion is the wearing away and removal of soil and sediment from riverbanks or shorelines by the force of water, wind, or runoff. This process naturally occurs at higher-energy zones, such as the outside of river bends, but is accelerated by factors like the removal of stabilizing vegetation, human activities that increase wave action or alter water flow, and intense rainfall.

PREVENTION

To prevent bank erosion, a combination of methods can be used, including vegetation, hard armoring, and engineered structures. Vegetation, particularly native plants, provides natural erosion control by stabilizing the soil with its roots and providing a buffer against water flow. Hard armoring, like riprap, can protect the bank from the force of water, while engineered structures like stream restoration structures can redirect flow and reduce erosion.

VEGETATION
Plant roots bind soil together, strengthening the bank and preventing erosion. The vegetation also provides shade, which can cool the water and protect aquatic life, and it can filter pollutants, improving water quality.

Riparian Vegetation
Establishing healthy riparian vegetation is a key strategy. This includes planting native willows, cottonwoods, shrubs, and trees to create a dense, complex habitat that can withstand erosion.
Vegetative Buffer Zones
Creating a buffer zone of vegetation along the bank can help slow down water flow, intercept sediment, and protect the bank from rain-impact erosion.

HARD ARMORING
Hard armoring is the construction or placement of vertical seawalls or bulkheads, sloped riprap (eg rocks) revetments, groins, jetties, or breakwaters along a shoreline.

Riprap
Placing rocks along the bank can help protect it from the force of water, reducing erosion.
Gabions
Using gabions (wire baskets filled with rocks) can also provide protection against erosion.
Other Hard Armoring
Other hard armoring techniques include concrete retaining walls, sheet piling, and soil-cement.

ENGINEERED STRUCTURES
An engineered structure is a construction that is designed and built based on engineering principles, using calculations and knowledge of materials and their behavior to ensure its stability and safety under expected loads.

Stream Restoration Structures
These structures, such as log vanes, cross vanes, or toe wood, can redirect flow and reduce erosion by creating a more stable channel.
Redirectional Bank Stabilization
This involves using barriers like groynes, spurs, or vanes to redirect flow and reduce the force of water on the eroding bank.
Longitudinal Peaked Stone Toe Protection (LPSTP)
A method developed by the US Army Corps of Engineers that uses a layer of rocks to protect the base of the bank.
Tree Revetment
Using small fallen trees anchored horizontally along the bank can slow water flow and catch sediment, promoting natural vegetation growth.

SOIL BIOENGINEERING
Soil bioengineering is a method that uses living plant materials to construct structures that provide both engineering and ecological functions, particularly for erosion control and slope stabilization.

Soil bioengineering
This approach combines revegetation with techniques like willow stakes and spiling to help plants become established before they are washed away.
Terracing
Creating terraces on steep banks can help to slow down water flow and reduce erosion.
Windrows and Trenches
These can be used to divert water flow and prevent it from reaching the eroding bank.

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