Erosion Control Fabric

Erosion Control Fabric POLLUTANTS ADDRESSED: Nutrients and Organics, Salinity, Sediments

DESCRIPTION: Erosion control fabric can be used to prevent erosion on slopes, banks, or floodplains until vegetation can be established. Wood cuttings and native plants can be planted in the fabric, and seeds can be placed underneath the fabric. By the time the fabric decomposes, planted vegetation will be ready to stabilize the streambank.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS: Plants prevent bank from erosion POTENTIAL TREATMENT AREAS: Agricultural Lands Developed Lands Stream Side ALTERNATIVE MANAGEMENT MEASURES: Brush Layers Brush Trench Toe Rock Willow Fascines Willow Pole Planting

LOAD REDUCTION MECHANISM: Nutrients/Organics Management- Plants will take up nutrients in the water.

Salinity Reduction- Plants will take up dissolved salts in the water.

PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS: None if applied by hand or away from streams or wetlands.

Sediment Reduction – The fabric reduces soil erosion until the planted vegetation can provide longterm protection.

Contact county regional flood control district.

LAND USE CLASSIFICATION: Agricultural lands Grazing lands

Arid Southwest BMP

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Erosion Control Fabric POLLUTANTS ADDRESSED: Nutrients and Organics, Salinity, Sediments

Level 300: MILD ENGINEERING LOAD REDUCTION POTENTIAL: LOW

MEDIUM

5. If the area is farmed, a riparian buffer strip should be established and maintained. A buffer strip on both sides of the stream should be set aside to allow for natural riparian vegetation and stream function. A wider buffer strip is strongly encouraged and will yield greater benefits.

HIGH

ESTIMATED TIME FOR LOAD REDUCTION: IMMEDIATE

MONTHS2 YEARS

> 2 YEARS Riparian Planting Zone: Bank Zone and Toe Zone.

EXPECTED MAINTENANCE: LOW

MEDIUM

HIGH

ESTIMATED COST: LOW

MEDIUM

HIGH

PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION: 1. An important step with this technique is to ensure the upstream and downstream ends of the erosion control blanket are well keyed into the bank to prevent high flows from pulling the blanket out. Cobble should be placed in the key trenches to prevent the fabric from being pulled out.

2. Another important step is where the fabric overlaps; it should be shingled away from the direction of the current to prevent flows from pulling at the fabric.

3. Never disturb the site unnecessarily. Remember the goal is to stabilize a site. The less it is disturbed, the easier it will be to restore.

4. If the area is grazed, restrict livestock from treated areas to allow the eroded section of streambank to heal. Exclosure fences are the most efficient means to accomplish this goal.

Managers should resist the temptation to put the exclosure fences at the high water line. The exclosure areas should include enough of the riparian zone to allow the stream to shift naturally over time.

Arid Southwest BMP

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