Karen, I hope something similar will work for your situation. Please note that my stream only has water intermittently and is very shallow, which might make a big difference. Bank slope and height, stream speed, soil type, and depth all factor in to erosion. You may need riprap at and under the water line or a more serious erosion control measure if you have lots of fast, frequent water with steep banks – especially if the stream is deep enough to be drained. My next door neighbor receives more water than I do and opted for the riprap option. I would think plants with shallow, profuse roots would be a good stabilizer, but then it will depend on the conditions. Maybe this publication will help: http://www.ctre.iastate.edu/erosion/manuals/streambank/how_to_control.pdf. Best of luck!