Engineered Wodd Chip Composite Erosion Control Material

Erosion control Best Management Practices (BMPs) have been developed for many situations, including building construction, highway construction, and stormwater management. As increasing awareness of the costs of erosion has occurred (soil loss, damage, water quality degradation) the number of erosion control materials available has increased. Restoration Technologies has worked with its collaborators to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the existing erosion control materials as they are applied within the arid to semi-arid Southwestern environments. RT found that land managers had trouble finding a material that will quickly stabilize a site and be durable enough to withstand the heavy rains, strong winds, and droughts long enough for native vegetation to be re-established. The wood chip composite material that was being developed in the lab appeared to have the necessary characteristics to address those issues.