Erosion Control Toolbox

Toolbox Overview

Tools

To Combine Specifications

• Sequencing

Planning & Design

• Preserve Existing Vegetation

Improve Soil Health

• Soils Testing
• Local Topsoil
• Imported Topsoil
• Roughen Soil Surface
• Stepped Slopes
• Contour Grading and Slope Rounding
• Decompact Soil
• Soil Nutrients
• Incorporate Materials

Improve Soil Health & Provide Cover

• Duff
• Mulch
• Compost

Short Term Cover

• Hydroseed Overview
  • Seed
  • Fiber
  • Straw
  • Tackifier
• Straw
• Hydroseed
• Bonded Fiber Matrix
• RECP (Jute Mesh)

Long Term Cover

• RECP (Netting)
• RECP (Blanket)
• RECP (Turf Reinforcing Mat)

Steep Slope Techniques

• Stepped Slope
• Cellular Confinement
• RECP Flap
• RECP Flap with Brush Layering
• RECP Wrap
• Soil Filled RSP
• Wire Blanket
• Wire Mesh Confinement

Planting

• Plant Selection
• TransPlant Application
• Noxious and Invasive Species
• Drill Seed
• Dry Seed
• Native Grass Sod
• Liner
• Seedling
• Brush Layering

Stormwater Treatment

• Biofiltration Strip
• Biofiltration Swale

Low Impact Development

• Overview
• Sidewalk Stormwater Planter
• Sidewalk Stormwater Tree Trench
• Parking Stormwater Planters
• Permeable Paving
• Additional Resources

Sediment Control

• Fiber Roll
• Compost Sock

References

• Webinars
• Guidance
• Research
• Presentations
• Magazine Articles
• Specifications by Others

Decompact Soil Surface

What is This Treatment?

This work involves the loosening of compacted soils. Decompaction is typically performed by two methods:

• Via bulldozer-drawn winged subsoiller as seen in the top left-hand photo above. The bulldozer drawn winged subsoiler takes advantage of equipment commonly used to decompact soils for agriculture.
• Via tracked excavator equipped with a subsoiling grapple rake or subsoiling excavator bucket as seen in the right-hand photo above. Unlike bulldozer-drawn tilling, the subsoiling grapple rake raises the soil surface slightly and leaving only a small furrow on the surface. The grapple rake leaves the nutrient-rich surface layer largely intact, while allowing water, microscopic fungus and native plant roots to penetrate more deeply.

When to Use This Treatment:

• Use on cut and fill slopes 3:1 and flatter. For specific maximum slope gradients, consult your geotechnical engineer.

• Use in flat areas where soils are highly compacted and require tilling to restore infiltration and water holding capacity.

Benefits:

• Reduced stormwater runoff volume and velocity.

• Improved infiltration rate.

• Improved soil water holding capacity.

• Improved soil structural properties - soil structure, porosity, and texture.

• Improved plant rooting depth.

• Improved potential for vigorous long term vegetation coverage.

Limitations:

• Nonstandard specification which requires approval from the Division of Construction.

• More costly (yet more effective) than surficial treatments such as Erosion Control (Hydroseed).

• May increase the cost of earthwork activities.

• Requires site accessibility by earthwork equipment.

• Not practical for shallow rocky soils.

Specifications:

• Decompact Soil Surface Nonstandard Standard Special Provision

Plans and Details:

• There is no Standard Plan for Decompact Soil Surface.

Estimate Information:

• There is no estimate information available for Decompact Soil Surface.
• There is no BEEs code for Decompact Soil Surface.

Guidance:

• Caltrans Soil Compaction Webinar

External Links:

• David Steinfield, Scott Riley, Kim Wilkinson, Thomas D. Landis, Lee Riley, et al. 2007. "Roadside Revegetation, An Integrated Approach to Establishing Native Plants" Accessed 2009-07-16
  • Chapter 10.1.2 Tillage
• Michael Hogan, 2009. "Sediment Source Control Handbook, An Adaptive Approach to Restoration of Disturbed Areas" Accessed 2009-07-16.
  • Toolkit Tool 8 - Soil Physical Treatment
• Wendi Goldsmith, Marvin Silva, and Craig Fischenich. May 2001. Determining Optimal Degree of Soil Compaction for Balancing Mechanical Stability and Plant Growth Capacity.
• Donald Gray, 2002. Optimizing Soil Compaction and Other Strategies - Balancing engineering requirements and plant-growth needs in slope protection and erosion control work. Accessed 2009-10-30
  " Taken as a whole, findings in the literature seem to suggest that compaction between 80% and 85% of the Standard Proctor maximum dry density provides many of the stabilizing benefits of soil compaction without jeopardizing the viability of vegetation development and growth. GLBDs or critical dry bulk densities can readily be compared to Standard Proctor maximum dry densities."
• Multipurpose Subsoiling Attachments New methods of soil decompaction developed by the Forest Service to cut costs and to ensure satisfactory results. These operations return of soil tilth (the physical condition of soil as related to its ease of tillage, fitness as a seedbed, and its impedance to seedling emergence and root penetration) to compacted soil.