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How to Construct a Gabion Basket Revetment

Water that is rapidly moving down a stream generates a lot of turbulence, causing submerged rocks and mud to float downstream. Turbulent water also erodes stream embankments, resulting in lost soil and possible flooding to the area. In response, some communities use gabion basket revetments to hinder erosion. Gabion basket revetments are sets of connected wire baskets that house a large volume of rocks. These baskets are permanently attached to the stream's embankment, providing erosion control for turbulent waterways.

Things You'll Need

Geotextile Filter Fabric
Shovel
Wire Baskets
Steel Rods
Wire
Large Rocks
Small Rocks

Instructions

- 1
  Cover the embankment with a geotextile filter fabric. Verify that there are no holes along the fabric's surface as it is installed across the embankment.
- 2
  Dig a hole into the embankment's base, where the water meets the sloped bank, with a shovel. Make sure that the hole is at least 1 foot deep into the ground, as well as large enough for retaining the end of a wire basket.
- 3
  Place a 3-foot by 3-foot wire basket into the open hole. Attach the basket to the embankment with 3- to 4-foot long steel rods. Press the rods through the basket, fabric, and embankment to secure the basket permanently.
- 4
  Add large and small rocks to the secured basket. Make sure that all gaps are filled with various rock sizes.
- 5
  String wire reinforcements across the basket's interior at each 12-inch rock level interval. Twist the wire tightly from one end of the basket to the other side. This reinforcement prevents the basket from warping in shape from the rock weigh.
- 6
  Close the basket tightly with wire after it is filled completely with rocks.
- 7
  Connect another basket above the completed basket by threading wire between each basket mesh assembly. Repeat Steps 3 through 6 for each subsequent basket. Add as many baskets as needed to secure the embankment from any erosion damage.

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