Eagle Scout Leads Restoration Project

Mark Corrin’s Eagle Scout Project Treats 120 Feet of Eroded Streambank at the Little Harpeth River in Brentwood’s River Park

By John McFadden Director of Science and Restoration Programs

On August 10, 11 and 12, 2005, Mark Corrin, his father Mike, his grandfather Ralph, and several Boy Scouts from Troop 5 in Brentwood carried out one of the largest river restoration projects the Harpeth River Watershed Association and the Volunteer River Restoration Corps have ever attempted. Under the direction of HRWA staff and with support from the Brentwood Parks Department, Mark and crew treated 120 feet of streambank in the Little Harpeth River in Brentwood’s River Park utilizing cedar revetments.

On Wednesday, the boys, along with Mark’s father and grandfather, drove to John McFadden’s cedar farm outside Lebanon to cut and roll cedar trees in jute, as per Jen-Hill Construction Materials’ suggestions. The trees being harvested were of lower quality

HRWA’s John McFadden and Field Assistant Michael Cain work on the plan.

(less greenery) so cutting them would make room for remaining trees to fill in, thus improving the quality of the remaining forest. Once the trees were cut, the boys rolled them in jute (material similar to burlap) and loaded them on two trailers for transport to the Brentwood site.

On Thursday morning, the boys unloaded the 22 cedar rolls in River Park and began the long process of preparing the streambank for cedar revetment installation. One crew began driving duckbill anchors, another tied wire to the lower anchors, another repaired the cedar rolls damaged in loading/unloading and transport, while the last group dug river cane to place behind the cedar rolls as they were anchored. Driving the anchors was the toughest part of the job, according to many of the boys.

Once the first set of anchors was set and wires tied, a new crew was formed to begin the process of installing the revetments. The cedar rolls were placed against the bottom of the eroding streambank and attached using the cable and wire clamps.

At the end, cedar revetments covered and protected 120 feet of the streambank, in some cases two cedar rolls high (2-4 feet).Thanks to Mark and all who helped out to make this such a successful project:

Boy Scouts prepare jute fabric to wrap around the
cedar trees before the trees are anchored to the streambank.