1) Quick Summary
“Live fascines” are ropes of dormant willow or red-osier dogwood branches, 6-8 inches thick and 4-20 feet long, buried in shallow trenches that run parallel to the creek. Once spring arrives, the cuttings sprout, knit the soil with roots, and create a living wall that slows runoff, traps sediment, and guards the bank from washing away dam.assets.ohio.gov.
2) Why You Can Trust This Guide
The how-to comes from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Soil & Water Resources, part of a state-funded “Ohio Stream Management Guides” series written by agency foresters, engineers, and biologists. The program is supported by a federal Clean Water Act grant and is widely used by watershed groups and conservation districts across Ohio dam.assets.ohio.gov.
3) How North Royalton Homeowners Can Try It
| Step | What to Do |
|---|---|
| Check the slope | Banks should be no steeper than 1 vertical : 2 horizontal; 1:3 is even better . |
| Gather cuttings | Between November & March, cut fresh willow or dogwood branches at least ½-inch thick. Keep them moist until use . |
| Build bundles | Tie 5+ cuttings into “cigar-shaped” bundles 6-8 inches in diameter, binding every 12–18 inches with untreated twine . |
| Dig trenches | Excavate 10–15 inch-deep trenches along the bank; space rows 3–5 ft apart for sandy soils or 5–7 ft for cohesive soils . |
| Install & stake | Lay bundles with butt ends pointing the same way, back-fill lightly, and drive 2–3 ft stakes through each bundle to anchor . |
| Maintain | After big rains in year one—and once a year after—inspect for wash-outs, prune willows when they get woody, and replace any failed sections . |
Tip: If your bank’s toe is taking direct hits from fast water, pair fascines with rock or a brush revetment for extra protection.
4) Full Resource
Ohio Stream Management Guide No. 14: “Live Fascines” — PDF: LINK HERE
5) Show Off Your Progress
Plant a fascine, snap a before-and-after photo, and tag @NoRoFloods on social media. Your project could spark the next backyard creek revival in North Royalton.