Turf Reinforcement Mat
Cool Creek Stream Bank Stabilization with Coir Logs and Turf Reinforcement Mats
Cool Creek Banks Graded in March 2007 Prior to Installation of Coir Logs and Turf Reinforcement Mats
In 2005 D2 Land & Water Resource was contacted by a consultant who needed to perform a mitigation planting in order to permit a new housing development along Cool Creek in Hamilton County, Carmel, Indiana. A shear stress analysis indicated that turf reinforcement mats with native plants could sufficiently stabilize the stream banks of Cool Creek. Coir logs were used to provide long term protection of the low bank position of the turf reinforcement mats. Coir logs initiate sediment deposition on top of the turf reinforcement mats during flood events. Coir logs also armor and provide a transition from the water to the turf reinforcement mats.
After the banks of Cool Creek were graded, native plant seeds were sown. Turf reinforcement mats were placed over the native seeds. BioNet 100% biodegradable erosion control blanket were placed on the upper bank over native plant seeds. Coir logs were anchored over the turf reinforcement mats at the normal water elevation.
Three and a half years after installation the dormant native plant community can be seen having established successfully through the turf reinforcement mats. The coir logs can still be seen in the low bank position. The coir logs used were 20 inches in diameter. The sediment deposition behind the coir logs and on top of the turf reinforcement mats is in excess of twenty-four inches. This system provided a stream bank stabilization armor equivalent to twenty-four inch rip rap. This natural system also provided the consultant and developer with an approach acceptable to the permitting authorities of IDNR, IDEM, and the USACE. Watch for a new picture this spring as the native plant community comes out of dormancy.
Looking Upstream at Coir Logs on Top of Turf Reinforcement Mats
Looking Upstream at Coir Logs on Top of Turf Reinforcement Mats
Bank Stabilization utilizing a Geotextile/Geogrid Vegetated MSE Wall with Turf Reinforcement Mats
Beginning of Construction
D2 Land and Water Resource assisted in design and supplied our MSE vegetated wall system with turf reinforcement mats for two section of Little Eagle Creek in Zionsville, IN. The road between Little Eagle Creek and the Zionsville, IN golf course was in jeopardy of being compromised due to the severe creek bank erosion.
Erosion control along Little Eagle Creek, has been an on going challenge, but the MSE green wall utilizing native seeds and plugs with turf reinforcement mats are holding up to the task. On February 28, 2011 Zionsville, IN had a near 100 year storm event forcing them to close flooded roads that the current street’s department has never closed before. Upon inspection of the site once the water receeded, Zionsville was pleasantly surprised at how the MSE green wall system was still intact.
Construction Completion
The MSE green wall system with native vegetation and turf reinforcement mats, is stable immediately after construction completion. It’s strength of the system continues to increase as the native vegetation roots deeply into the constructed creek bank. After the near record flood event, the turf reinforcement mat had an enormous amount of sediment deposit on top. This sediment deposition is beneficial to the development of the native plant community.
We will post more pictures of the MSE green wall, as the native vegetation grows through the turf reinforcement mat. We have an additional MSE green wall on Eagle Creek Reservoir. We will be posting this project shortly as the native plants have gone through two growing seasons. Stay tuned for more posts on turf reinforcement mats and bank stabilization as we pull them from our project library.
After the creek overtopped the road with Sediment Deposit