Remove Sharp Debris from Stream Channel
Make sure the excavated channel is free of rocks, sticks and roots that could puncture the liner. Where several layers of rocks will be stacked, a slight amount of wetted sand can be added to make a smoother subsurface.

Lay the fabric underlayment
Excess fabric should be used for cushioning large rock placements.

1. Lay the rubber liner over the fabric. Be sure that no rocks fall between
the layer of underlayment and the liner, as this could damage the liner and
possibly cause a leak.

2. Center the liner from top to bottom and from side to side. Don’t be in a hurry to cut off the excess liner, as it can be trimmed later. Always allow a little extra liner to overhang the sides. Up to 6” of excess liner can easily be folded under as the final rocks are being placed.

3. Avoid making lateral folds that can traverse water over the side wall. Keep in mind that all water that laps or splashes against a sidewall must be able to flow back into the channel. Be very attentive to this when placing the rocks.

4. Waterfall drops bunch and gather liner from the sides, so give yourself plenty of liner to work with in these areas.