Joe Csoff has a number of ALUS projects on his demonstration farm in Norfolk County, Ontario. One of his most interesting projects is the rehabilitation of a washed-out gully that had eroded into the North Creek wooded ravine, which involved the stabilization of the gully and establishment of a thick vegetated buffer.
The gully had previously been stabilized at a cost of $20,000, but the original work failed due to the absence of an emergency overflow. ALUS Norfolk planned to install a drop culvert and emergency overflow.
We placed pieces of old cement foundation across the eroded gully to create a stabilizing wall and prepare it for backfilling in early fall 2008, then cover with topsoil.
Five years later, the gully had been stabilized, the cement wall was secure, and a thick vegetated buffer had been established. The site became a popular stop on for ALUS Norfolk tours.
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- Gully on Joe Csoff ALUS demonstration farm had been stabilized at a cost of $20,000 but failed due to absence of an emergency overflow. Here pieces of old cement foundation are used to block across the gully so that it may be backfilled in early fall of 2008.
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- Cement wall complete and backfilled. Early fall 2008.
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- The washout repair under construction showing the drop culvert entrance on right and emergency overflow pipe on left … Early fall 2008.
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- Cement wall has now lasted 5 years. This view on July 19, 2013.
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- This shows gully stabilization almost completed with top soil being spread over stabilized site. Ted Stockman, the contractor is standing at the drop culvert and emergency overflow. The stabilizing wall of cement pieces is on the right side of the photo where the gully eroded down into the North Creek wooded ravine.
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- The completed washout repair on July 19, 2013.
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- This shows the stabilized gully and thick vegetated buffer on July 3, 2013 during a tour of folks from the municipality of Chatham Kent who are interested in the ALUS concept. From left to right: Gunther Csoff (ALUS-Norfolk), Earle Johnson (Chatham Kent), Vic Knight (Chatham Kent) stand at the drop culvert outlet and emergency overflow while Rick Csoff (Joe’s son) and Denika Piggott (ALUS-Norfolk coordinator) stand at the ravine edge near the original gully that has been stabilized.
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- The completed washout repair almost 5 years later during a July 2, 2013 tour … Left to right include: Chris Van Passen, ALUS-Norfolk chair; Kyle Mauthe, ALUS-Bayham coordinator; Chris Knight with back to camera, Chatham Kent farmer; Brian Craig, ALUS-Norfolk farmer and; Denika Piggott, ALUS-Norfolk coordinator.
