The City of Ames had observed significant erosion along the South Skunk River near Carr Park and Homewood Golf Course. Near the golf course, river erosion had undercut a sheet pile wall that was protecting a trunk sanitary sewer main and a recreational trail.  Near Carr Park, the river had moved 20 to 30 feet in only a couple of years; jeopardizing another section of the trunk sewer main. Both of these river reaches had developed overwide cross sections with poor aquatic habitat potential.

The solution included bendway weirs, locked logs, and stone toe protection to redirect the river thalweg away from existing infrastructure, deepen the center of the channel, and add aquatic variability. Bank shaping and invasive canopy clearing reconnected the river with the surrounding floodplain to maintain the stability of the newly constructed channel and improve ecological function.

Stabilization measures and erosion controls were also applied at several small sites along the recreational trail between Carr Park and the golf course. Sediment deposition and water ponding along these sections had previously made the trail inaccessible for extended periods after rainfall events.

RDG partnered with River Research and Design for potamology and design consultation, Barker Lemar for ecological assessments, and Nilles Associates for surveying. The project was constructed in 2018/2019 at a cost of just over $600,000.