Kansas KDOT Erosion Control Products

Solmax DOT Standard Specification Product Chart (click image to expand)

Kansas KDOT - Erosion Control Methods

Kansas work zones span expansive clays on the central plains, loess along the northeast bluffs, sandy alluvium near the Arkansas and Kansas rivers, and thin, rocky soils in the Flint Hills. Add prairie winds, long dry spells, and then fast, high-intensity thunderstorms that can turn sheet flow into rills in minutes. The result: freshly disturbed slopes and ditches can unravel quickly unless they’re stabilized early and layered with the right controls.

Rolled erosion control products (RECPs). On new embankments, slope repairs, and swales, crews install straw, excelsior, coconut/coir, or blended blankets to shield soil and seed from rain splash and wind scour. Straw blankets fit short, gentle slopes and low-velocity swales; heavier coir or straw-coir mats handle longer grades and higher shear stresses typical of summer cloudbursts. Blankets are trenched at the crest and toe, overlapped shingle-style, and pinned to manufacturer patterns—with extra anchoring on the I-70 wind corridor and other open plains sites.

Turf-reinforcement mats (TRMs). Where velocities exceed temporary blanket limits—steep ditches, outfalls, curve bends, or long grades—synthetic TRMs provide permanent reinforcement. Once vegetation roots through, the composite resists repeated storm events and drawdown better than bare soil and can reduce the volume of riprap needed in constrained rights-of-way, improving maintenance access and aesthetics.

Hydraulic mulches and soil binders. Irregular cuts and broad slopes are treated with hydraulic applications: hydroseed with hydromulch, bonded fiber matrix (BFM), or flexible growth media (FGM). BFMs form a breathable crust that resists sheet flow yet allows germination—useful for quick cover between storm windows. On windy or drought-prone sites, straw mulch is crimped into the soil and locked with tackifier or polymer binder to prevent blow-off until roots knit the surface. Higher tack rates are common on sandy alluvium and exposed ridgelines.

Slope interrupters and perimeter controls. Fiber rolls (wattles) and compost filter socks placed on contour break long slope lengths, slow runoff, and trap sediment before rills form. At the project boundary, silt fence excels in loess and other fine-grained soils when trenched and backfilled correctly; on stony shoulders or near traffic, heavier filter socks offer stability and easier maintenance. The emphasis is intercepting sheet flow high on the slope so water never gains erosive energy.

Check structures and channels. Temporary rock or wattle check dams in construction ditches reduce velocities and drop out sediment. Spacing is set so each crest ponds water to the toe of the next, creating a stair-step energy dissipator. At culvert outlets and storm outfalls, crews pair blankets or TRMs with riprap over an appropriate filter layer; coir logs at the toe keep edges tight until vegetation establishes. In very high shear zones, articulated concrete block mats add durability while allowing vegetation in the cells.

Inlet protection and track-out control. Curb socks, drop-inlet inserts, and gravel rings around grates keep sediment out of storm systems during grading and paving. Stabilized construction exits—coarse stone over geotextile—limit mud tracked onto public roads; street sweeping backs them up where sticky clays cling to tires.

Basins, traps, and stockpiles. Sediment basins or traps intercept runoff from disturbed areas and provide settling volume ahead of discharge. Topsoil stockpiles are promptly seeded and mulched or covered; perimeter wattles or fence keep fines on site during storm bursts.

Seeding strategy, inspection, and maintenance. Timing targets moisture: dormant seeding in late fall, cool-season windows in early spring, and warm-season native mixes (e.g., tallgrass prairie species) when soils are warm. After major rains or wind events, teams repair tears, reset stakes, empty inlet devices, remove accumulated sediment (often at half height), and reseed bare spots. Temporary controls come out once vegetation is dense and slopes and channels prove stable.

Bottom line: on KDOT projects, erosion control isn’t one product—it’s a layered system. Blankets, TRMs, hydraulic mulches, wattles, silt fence, check dams, inlet protection, basins, and stabilized exits work together to tame prairie storms, protect waterways, and give vegetation the foothold it needs to lock Kansas soils in place.

Kansas KDOT