Periodic debris removal along the stream-side edge of the waterbreak. Periodic harvesting or thinning of waterbreak vegetation to maintain vigorous plant growth and achieve wood product specifications. Costs Typical establishment costs may vary greatly from site to site, depending on type and size of planting material used, need for outside labor, site preparation needs, and cost-sharing opportunities. State and federal programs may be available to help landowners offset some establishment costs and to provide incentive payments to maintain riparian systems. Contact local USDA Service Centers for more information on available cost share programs.
Benefits Properly designed, waterbreak systems can provide many benefits to floodplain ecosystems.
Waterbreaks, during flooded conditions, trap debris, reduce sand deposition and scouring, increase bank stability, protect levee systems, and reduce damage to roads and ditches. In addition, post flood research on a 39-mile stretch of the Missouri River showed 90 percent less levee damage where woody corridors exceed 300 feet in width. Studies in Kansas for the same flood event showed that land-cover vegetation significantly affected the amount of streambank erosion. During non-flooded conditions, waterbreaks increase wildlife habitat, improve water quality by trapping sediments and filtering chemicals which can provide additional farm income from the sale of wood products and through increased opportunities for fee hunting. Some of these benefits may be experienced as early as the second growing season following establishment.