Naples Creek Streambank Stabilization Project

The project focused on stabilizing Naples Creek stream bank, access road and agricultural field as well as installing a rock cross vane to improve flow and reduce aggradation in Naples Creek. In the Spring of 2017, Naples Creek in the Town of Naples experienced high water flows and snagging of large woody debris, leading to stream bank failure and overflow into the adjacent agricultural field, causing massive erosion. There was a cut 2-3 feet deep along the stream bank where water left the stream channel and flowed over the access road and agricultural field. The large concentrated flow caused massive erosion along the road and field owned by the Village of Naples. This sediment and nutrient laden water rejoined Naples Creek further downstream. Noting the elevation of the agricultural field is lower than the current streambed elevation of Naples Creek, the concern was the stream may redirect itself through the agricultural field as a path of least resistance. Within the stream channel, USFWS designed a bank stabilization project using toewood with soil lifts as well as a rock cross vane to redirect flow to the center channel. This redirection would help in preventing aggradation (build-up of deposited material in the stream bed) in Naples Creek. Ontario Soil & Water Conservation District offered assistance with project funding, permitting and management with collaboration with partners from the Village of Naples, NYS Department of Conservation, NYS Department of Transportation, US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Ontario County. In addition to the work in Naples Creek, the adjacent access road was stabilized with geotextile and additional rock material. Working with the farmer who rents the agricultural land from the Village of Naples, it was determined that approximately 1.7 acres would be taken out of production and stabilized with grass to be used as a permanent grassed overflow area for high flow events to reduce soil loss from the field and filter sediment from stormwater.