Best way to keep a creek bed from washing out?

[kper65]

This year I noticed the seasonal creek bed has washed out to the point that it's about a foot or more deeper than it was last fall. The bed is in a deep gully but the actual washed out portion is about 3 feet deep and about 4 or 5 feet wide. I was thinking of using busted concrete as a base and maybe some larger river rock on top for appearance. Would this be sufficient?

[rwanders]

Before you start placing fill material in a streambed, better talk with your county or state environmental departments. There are often rather draconian regulations and penalties on what you can and can't do in a waterway---even seasonal ones. After you know, you can either ignore them or find out how to do it lawfully. At least you will know if you have to wait until the sun goes down. Other than that your plan sounds doable but be careful you don't cause the stream to overflow by blocking it up too much.

[concretemasonry]

If you dump more rock, concrete into the lower area of the stram, you restrict the flow area and increase the velocity of the remaining flow. This will cause more erosion above the rock/stone which could be another situation. Adding material will "neck" down the stream.

Apparently the drainage area above you has changed (development, paving etc.) and increased the flow above what it was previously.

Dick

[kper65]

Thank you.