Erosion Control Techniques on Forest Road Cutslopes and Fillslopes in North Alabama

Abstract

Road cutslopes and fillslopes account for approximately 50 percent of the total road disturbance area on steep terrain and contribute as much as 60 percent of sediment from forest roads. The significance of erosion control techniques on these vulnerable components of the road prism has become evident in recent years. A study to gain a better understanding of erosion control techniques on road cutslopes and fillslopes is detailed. Sediment and runoff yield from three erosion control treatments and a control were investigated on west-facing 2:1 and 1.5:1 cutslopes and fillslopes, respectively, on a newly constructed road during a 30-month study. The treatments evaluated were a wood excelsior erosion mat, native species grass, and exotic species grass. Factors detected to significantly affect sediment yield from road sideslopes were treatment, time, and treatment-time interaction based on analysis of variance. Significant reductions in sediment yield and runoff were found on all treatments on both the cutslope and fillsiope. The erosion mat most effectively controlled erosion losses on both slopes for all study periods.

Citation

Grace, Johnny M.,III. 1999. Erosion Control Techniques on Forest Road Cutslopes and Fillslopes in North Alabama. Transportation Research Record No. 1652, Vol. 2, Seventh International Conference on Low-Volume Roads 1999