North Dakota's Missouri River, Red River of the North corridor experience ongoing riverbank erosion driven by current scour at the toe, wave action from vessel traffic and wind, ice scour during spring breakup, and groundwater seepage that destabilizes bank soils from within. This erosion undermines road embankments, exposes buried utilities, threatens bridge abutments, and progressively reduces the setback distance between the river and the infrastructure it parallels.
Riverbank erosion accelerates during flood events when increased flow velocity and elevated water levels attack the bank at heights and energies that base-flow conditions do not reach. A single major flood can remove years' worth of bank that was gradually eroding under normal conditions.
Revetment armors the riverbank against current scour, wave wash, and flood-stage attack. GSI designs bank revetment systems calibrated to the specific hydraulic conditions at each site—flow velocity, flood stage, ice scour potential, and vessel wake energy.
Bioengineered bank stabilization combines structural elements with living plant systems. Willow stakes, coir fiber rolls, and vegetated geogrids establish root networks that reinforce the bank progressively over time—reducing long-term maintenance compared to hard armor alone.
During flood events, rapidly eroding banks threaten adjacent infrastructure. GSI's Soil Nail Launcher™ installs emergency bank reinforcement without the excavation that would further destabilize an already-failing bank—providing immediate resistance while permanent protection is designed.
GSI's engineering team is ready for your North Dakota riverbank erosion control challenge. Get your site-specific assessment today.
