Large wood anchorage techniques trial

Melbourne Water have programs of large wood installation in a number of rivers and generally anchor the wood so that it stays in the desired location and does not cause a safety risk if it is mobilised downstream. Alluvium was engaged to devise a number of anchorage techniques that could be tested in a reach of the Little Yarra River. To ensure the anchorage techniques were trialled under the greatest force possible, high energy zones were identified within the reach. These zones were identified by visiting the site at a bankfull flow and checked against two-dimensional hydraulic modelling.

Three different anchorage techniques were developed. Each anchorage technique was then trialled in high energy zones with differing geomorphic characteristics. It is hoped that the results of this trial can inform Melbourne Water of the most effective anchorage technique for large wood.