Please help!:-) I have searched on Yahoo and Google but I don't get the information I need. I've found sites that tell me how to plant lots of willows and dogwoods to "take over" the creek bank and keep it from eroding but I don't want that.

Your final result will depend a lot on what type of rock you can find and place. The stone should be big enough and stable enough when placed to withstand the stream. If you can get a backhoe or something similar to place big (3' or more) stones, just work from the bottom up with enough slope that it will be stable. Smaller stones can be placed by hand. If the stream has a lot of seasonal variation, it will deposit sediment in the cracks by itself. If you can only hand place stones, you are going to have to make sure the material they are placed on is stable. Think of it this way: the bigger the particles, the more likely that they will stay in place. Big rocks are better than small rocks, which are better than gravel, better than sand, better than silt better than clay. Reinforcement is great if you can work it into the rock (geo fabric, rebar, wire fencing, chicken wire). Plant material is the last and easiest, but you need a bank that is going to stay in place first, especially so close to your foundation.

Louis, thank you! I appreciate the valuable tips. I was wondering just how big the very bottom rocks should be. Now i know to look for 3' rocks, if possible. Getting a back hoe to the spot where the rocks need to be might be tricky but not impossible. Thanks so much for giving me something to go on:-)

we have a creek that meanders across the whole of our back yard - about 150'! The creek was making a really wide bed for itself and most of the time is only about 3 - 4" deep, although when it rains it can rise up to three feet. In our area you can get 'rip rap' delivered by the county for free (50 tonn per year). (this is mostly small pieces around 6"x12" but some are much larger) Last year we had our quota and this year I have had one load delivered to date. Now, most people just lay this on the walls of the creek bed, grading the side of the creek if necessary. We decided to build a wall with the rock. It has taken a long time, and we did learn by our mistakes, but it looks tremendous. People who come to visit think that its wonderful. So, you could try that. I will try and post pictures later on this week. Good luck

Britbrit, thanks for the tip! I'll check with our county. There is some road construction going on. Please do post pictures. I would love to see them.

i would stay away from the rock - impervious surfaces in a flood plain are not a good idea... unless you are sure you can get a good foundation under them - its fairly common for the erosive action of the water to erode underneath of large rocks or concrete blocks or gabion baskets and they will become unstable and fall down - creating even a bigger erosion nightmare...

do an internet search for: stablizing riparian areas, see what that bring you...i'll attach a link that i like to refer people to in illinois area...some of the info will be useful...

Here is a link that might be useful: riparian area management guide

joepyeweed, thanks for the link! I printed off their Citizens Guide to riparian area management. Looks like there is a lot of information at that site. I'll do the search you suggested.