NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection

As engineers for the City of Batesville, Mississippi, MER was tasked with preparing plans and specifications to combat stream bank erosion in three key areas along major drainage ditches in Batesville. In cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the City of Batesville secured a grant to help fund the nearly $600,000 project.

Part of the design included analysis of the streams using the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s River Analysis System (HEC-RAS). Using the results of this analysis, stream bank stabilization and erosion countermeasures could be designed accordingly. MER was responsible for the development of plans and specifications, managing contract bids, and construction administration and management.

Riprap was used to line the lower portion of the channel sides. An Armor Reinforcing Vegetation System (ARVS) was used to complete the stream bank stabilization above the riprap.