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In January 1997, the CIWMB initiated a contract with the Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) for a two-and-a-half-year demonstration and research project using various
mulch, compost, and co-compost (bio-solids composted with yard trimmings) materials as
erosion control materials for re-vegetation of roadsides that could potentially erode.
CIWMB funding, which totaled $35,000 plus federal highway funds leveraged by the
partnership, will allow project staff to conduct research relative to specification
development and establishment of demonstration sites using various types of
recycled-content erosion control materials. A preliminary report titled Compost Demonstration
Project, Placer County... is available from the Board's Online Publications
Catalog (publication #443-99-018), written by Caltrans and the U.C. Davis for CIWMB.
Caltrans has indicated it will disseminate the final report on the results of the project
in the fall of 2001. Goals
- Collect data on mulch, compost, and co-compost performance of surface applications.
- Establish erosion control demonstration sites in California.
- Characterize plant available nutrients and other properties of these recycled-content
products and their effect on re-vegetation plants.
- Develop specifications for use of these recycled-content products as erosion control
materials.
Partnership Organizations
- Fiscal Agent
: Caltrans.- Project Director
: John Haynes, Caltrans.- Key Partners
: Caltrans, University of California at Davis, Texas Transportation
Institute
Project Components
- Partnership Development and Implementation of Work Plan. The partnership team
developed a work plan for evaluating the use of mulch and compost as erosion control
materials. Tasks performed to date include a literature search, product quality survey,
establishment of one demonstration plot, and a standardized testing of erosion control
materials. Tasks to be performed include the effect on soil processes relative to mulch or
compost use through the summer of 2001.
- Specification Development and Dissemination. Specifications for mulch and compost
as erosion control materials will be developed for California based on data from this
project. Caltrans staff will disseminate these specifications throughout the State in
2001.
- Reporting and Publishing Results. During the course of the project, the
partnership team developed information for a CIWMB progress report and will disseminate a
Caltrans final report following conclusion of the project. The CIWMB progress report,
including an interim Caltrans specification for compost, is now available from the Board's
Online Publications Catalog.
Purpose :
- Develop specifications for mulch and compost as erosion control materials.
- Demonstrate the value of mulch and compost as erosion control materials.
- Disseminate the results of the project to erosion control specialists.
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