There are a variety of methods and products available for erosion control. In order to effectively implement these, your environment, objectives, potential for erosion and more need to be assessed. Choosing the correct erosion control method relies on these steps.
Site assessment
The location of a specific site, and the current condition of erosion, along with the potential for further erosion in the future, must all be considered in order to implement the correct form of erosion control. In addition to erosion potential, other environmental concerns, including nearby wildlife, plant life ,and weeds should be considered. The timing of the project, both how long the site will remain active, and what seasons erosion control will need be effective in, will play a big role in choosing your erosion control treatment.
Set objectives
While many projects may share similar broad objectives, by being as detailed and specific as possible, success for each unique project can be accurately defined. Performance based objectives is one way to define success, while you may also have a specific species of vegetation, or type of soil you’re trying to minimize damage to. By setting these objectives before the project begins, you can narrow down your choices of erosion control methods and choose one that gives the best chance at success.
Assess erosion potential
You took a high-level look at erosion potential during your site assessment, but in this step, you’ll use a more in-depth investigation to define concerns for erosion based on a collection of site specific data, and characteristics of the site, including topography, climate, and vegetation present. These in-depth assessments are often required by regulatory agencies, or made necessary by the circumstances of a specific site. In either case, by assessing the erosion potential, you’ll have a better idea of the erosion control treatment needed.
Select your treatment
After finishing with your initial three steps, you should have enough information to begin selecting a specific erosion control method. In order to do this successfully, you’ll need to be sure you’ve identified the type of erosion likely to be present, be it surface, seepage related, channel or coastal related, or another type of erosion. You’ll then want to consider alternative treatments along with traditional methods like erosion control blankets. You may even combine multiple methods to find one that provides protection for your specific site and objectives.
Whatever your erosion control needs, Maxwell Supply in Tulsa has the products needed to do the job right. Browse through our online inventory of erosion control products, or come see us for help finding what your project requires.