If this is not an option, contact your city office for recommendations.
You may need to submit plans for your project and gain approval from the appropriate city authority.
Need more help?
Witold Skrypczak / Getty Images
Work with the natural slope and contours of the ground as much as possible, to promote flow.
Dig the Trench
Remove all grass and other plants between the painted lines.
Excavate the soil to a depth of 12 to 18 inches, as desired.
Illustration: The Spruce
The center of the trench should be the deepest point or at least as deep as the sides.
Shovel the soil into a wheelbarrow and move it out of the area as you go.
double-check the trench follows a naturaldownward slopefrom the top to the bottom of the creek path.
Tamp the soil firmly with a hand tamp or by stepping repeatedly with your feet.
Add Landscape Fabric
Cover the entire trench with 30-yearlandscape fabric.
Use onlyhigh-quality, commercial-grade fabric; do not use plastic or inexpensive weed barriers.
As with the boulders, random placement looks more natural than a uniform arrangement.
This layer should be thick enough to completely conceal the landscape fabric.
Use a rake to spread and smooth the smaller stones over the center of the bed.
By hand, push stones around the boulders for a natural look.
The fabric should extend under the boulders but should not be visible.
Plants can also protect against erosion during heavy rains.
Usually, the best place to add plants is behind large boulders along the creek edge.
Fill in around planted areas with stone or wood mulch.
Arain gardenis a great option for the end, or collection point, of a creek bed.
A dry creek bed is also called a dry stream bed or sometimes known as an arroyo.
For heavy rainwater that can affect a foundation, it’s also wise to consider a French drain.
Sources and Solutions: Stormwater.EPA.
Soak Up the Rain: Rain Gardens.EPA.
