Over my years at UW-Eau Claire the rumor of a construction project to stabilize the Chippewa riverbank along Garfield Avenue was at the back of my mind as I walked to class from upper campus. You may be wondering why I care, and those who know me might suspect it is because my favorite tree to climb on campus is right on the bank, where I can perch over the water and read. All of the trees on the bank will have to be cut down for the project, to begin this winter.

Anyway, I have finally made a serious attempt at tracking down some facts and interpretations of the project, and I think they are important for students to know.

Project Purpose: According to studies done by Ayres Associates (a structural design company) and others (notably engineer Tuncer Edil from Madison), the tree-lined riverbank along Garfield Avenue on lower campus, between the footbridge and the Putnam parking lot, needs major stabilizing to prevent erosion or collapse in the case of a major flood. The bank at its current state, even with the trees and concrete debris slope, is considered somewhat unstable and a safety hazard. In 1993, some signs of failure were detected when the bank became saturated after the flood and a gap formed in the top soil.

What to Expect: Construction of a new riverbank will include the use of geopiers for foundation support (see www.geopier.com for more info), riprap limestone chunks of various sizes piled up on the bank, and new vegetation and trees. The plan is to begin the removal of trees on the bank during winter break of this school year, cutting them down to the stumps. This will leave a noticeable difference on the bank for students returning for spring semester 2004. The next step will be the installation of geopiers, the grading of the 900 foot long bank section, and the placing of riprap material. This is all expected to be completed by the fall semester of 2004.

Some of the upper reaches of riprap will be covered in topsoil and grass, and a large number of trees and vegetation will be planted into the fall. A gravel trail along the top of the bank, separated from the steep bank by a metal railing, should be completed sometime in the fall of 2004 if the project remains on schedule.

Project History: As some students and faculty may know, there has been considerable debate and public outcry related to this project in the past few years. One needs only to look at the Spectator's online archive of River Bank related articles to see how the project has evolved over time.

The first design for the project was submitted by Ayres Associates in 2001 and approved by university officials. When the plan came up for public input however, everyone from concerned faculty members to the 3rd Ward Neighborhood Association to the Putnam Park Commission spoke out about what they felt was an outrageous plan. In addition to that, the Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources did not authorize the plan because it would illegally restrict the flow of the river.

The first design extended more than half way across the river with riprap under water, which would restrict the channel and make a flood more likely and extreme. After two revisions and over a million dollars of state money spent on design and legal work, the public and the DNR have altered the project to be more acceptable and less intrusive. The new design will only extend one foot into the river, still technically against regulation, but much less noticeable. The estimated cost for the project is $650,000, but it may exceed one million dollars.

Current Concerns: With the project now approved and contractors ready, there is still no lack of concern among the university faculty about the riverbank project. Sean Hartnett, Professor of Geography at UW-Eau Claire, pointed out the primary concerns of faculty within the Biology, Geology, and Geography Departments.

Biologists are concerned mostly with the loss of vegetation and trees, which will ruin the habitat of nesting birds. Geologists are still concerned about whether or not the bank is actually unstable, because most of them believe it is stable.

Geographers on the other hand, have other concerns. Sean Hartnett described that he has seen no physical evidence that a collapse would occur if there was a major flood event. He believes that both ends of the project are very stable, but they are also very delicate and important. At the site of the Putnam parking lot end (designated by an orange fence if you want to take a look), Hartnett explains that the rock formations and the sand deposition beach at the site are a historical natural area which will be adversely effected by the project. On the footbridge end, he explains that it will be difficult to do the construction work because of the pedestrian ramp, and if the university is so concerned about safety, the bridge access should be redesigned to make it safer for pedestrians to cross Garfield Avenue.

Hartnett's primary concern is still the fact that the river's flow will be adversely affected by the project, and the aesthetic look of the river bank will never be the same. Chris Goodwin, Water Resources Engineer at Ayres Associates, explained that he thinks it is a good project, especially considering so many people got a say in it. Sean Hartnett however, who helped organize opposition to the project among faculty, thought without the work of themselves and the 3rd Ward the project would have been a major detriment to the river and the university. As is, we will have to see what happens.