Williams Creek Management was contracted to tackle multiple, unique and challenging emergency bank stabilizations along the White River in Gosport, Indiana. The bank stabilization projects were needed to protect a number of transmission structures from failing due to the encroaching riverbank failures. Existing river encroachments had been the result of recent flood events and had yielded several compromised structures to the point of complete failure. Not only would Williams Creek have to complete the emergency stabilizations, but crews would also be forced to implement a few different and creative access solutions in order to complete the work at hand.

The location of the first emergency bank stabilization took place on an island in the middle of the White River, making access tricky and complex to complete. Williams Creek created a temporary stone crossing utilizing large aggregate stone and revetment rip rap for transportation of material to and from the work site. Once island access was achieved, crews began to shape and stabilize the failed banks to ensure no further damage would take place to the existing transmission line structures located on the river island. The second emergency stabilization was slightly upriver and along an adjacent environmentally sensitive and protected area. Special precautions and restoration efforts were utilized at this location to protect the natural areas from any damage during the construction process.

In total, Williams Creek stabilized greater than 650 lineal feet of riverbank, utilizing over 5000 tons of stone. Upon completion of the stabilization, our team removed the temporary bridge and restored the White River flowline back to pre-construction condition. All facets of restoration throughout the work area including row crop field decompaction, site vegetation, upland prairie restoration, and permanent access route construction were completed by Williams Creek prior to project close-out.