Topics
- Awards and Recognition
- Annual Reports
- Barrier Aesthetics
- Blue Star Memorial Highways
- Classified Landscaped Freeways
- Community Identification
- Construction Contract Standards
- Context Sensitive Solutions
- Erosion Control Toolbox
- Estimating
- Gateway Monuments
- Highway Planting
- Manuals, Guidance, Policy and Procedures
- Publications
- Research
- Roadside Toolbox
- Safety Roadside Rest Area System
- Scenic Highways
- Transportation Art
- Visual Impact Assessment Outlines
- Visual Impact Assessment Online Training
- Water Conservation
- Webinars
Contractor Resources
Erosion Control Toolbox
Tools
To Combine Specifications
Planning & Design
Improve Soil Health
- Soils Testing
- Local Topsoil
- Imported Topsoil
- Roughen Soil Surface
- Stepped Slopes
- Contour Grading and Slope Rounding
- Decompact Soil
- Soil Nutrients
- Compost (Incorporate)
Improve Soil Health & Provide Cover
Short Term Cover
Long Term Cover
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
- Willow Cuttings
- Native Grass Sod
- Liner
- Seedling
- Brush Layering
Stormwater Treatment
Sediment Control
References
Roughen Soil Surface
 |
What is This Treatment?
Soil roughening involves roughening finish-graded surfaces with earthwork equipment. Perform roughening as follows:
- Trackwalk fill slopes by running tracked equipment perpendicular to slope contours.
- Sheepsfoot roll fill slopes by drawing a wheeled punch across the slope with a cable or tractor.
- Scarify cut slopes by drawing a serrated bulldozer blade or notched slope board across the slope parallel to the slope contours.
When to Use This Treatment:
- Roughen all slopes that are to receive permanent erosion control materials, unless otherwise directed in the special provision for the erosion control materials to be applied.
- Slopes 2:1 (H:V) and flatter - roughen via trackwalking or scarification.
- Slopes 1.5:1 (H:V) and flatter - roughen via sheepsfoot roller.
- Comply with the guidance for Slope Roughening/Terracing/Rounding/Stepping provided in Appendix A of the Caltrans Storm Water Quality Handbooks Project Planning and Design Guide.
Benefits:
-
Reduced stormwater runoff volume and velocity.
-
Improved infiltration rate.
-
Improved soil water holding capacity.
-
Improved potential for vigorous long term vegetation coverage.
Limitations:
-
May increase the cost of earthwork activities.
-
Requires site accessibility by earthwork equipment.
-
May not be practical for sandy soils.
-
May not be practical for shallow rocky soils.
Standards and Specifications:
- SSP 19-300 Roughen Soil clauses - Add to SSP 19-010 Earthwork
- Caltrans Highway Design Manual Topic 110.2(2)(b) recommends slope roughening techniques such as stepped slopes, trackwalking, scarification, and sheeps foot rolling to minimize erosion and promote plant growth. Check out the Stepped Slopes webpage for detailed information on stepped slopes.
Plans and Details:
- No Standard Plans or Details required
Estimate Information:
- Typically $350/acre (2009) per the Project Planning and Design Guide Storm Water Quality Handbook
- No separate BEES code - paid for as part of Roadway Excavation.
Guidance:
- Highway Design Manual Topic 110.2(2)(b)
- Appendix A - Caltrans Storm Water Quality Handbooks Project Planning and Design Guide.
- California Department of Transportation, "Performance of Erosion Control Treatments on Reapplied Topsoil", May 2005.
- Caltrans Erosion Control Webinars
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
- Michael Hogan, 2009. "Sediment Source Control Handbook, An Adaptive Approach to Restoration of Disturbed Areas" Accessed 2009-07-16.
