edge treatment design

For all of the aesthetic considerations that come with crafting a stream, the fact is that man-made waterways must function properly. Here, in the second installment of a series on the art of stream construction, landscape designer Rick Anderson addresses this practical/technical part of the picture, guiding us through liner placement, plumbing and equipment installation – all with an eye toward ensuring an end product that meanders steadily, cleanly and beautifully.

Stream-Lined Effects

As is the case with a stream's aesthetics, the functionality of any multi-level, gravity-driven waterway must be considered from the outset of any project. After all, no matter how natural and beguiling a stream may be in appearance, if it doesn't hold water, work properly in terms of hydraulics and filtration or provide ecological balance, the whole thing can and will become a nightmare. Fortunately, making streams work isn't all that difficult - as long as you keep your eye on a critical set of fundamentals. Last time, we laid out the stream course, created