Maine DOT Erosion Control Products

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

Maine DOT - Erosion Control Methods

Maine jobs span glaciomarine clays, silty tills, rocky uplands, peat pockets, and a storm-prone coastline. Long freeze–thaw seasons, spring snowmelt, nor’easters, and tidal backwater can turn freshly graded slopes into rills and send sediment into ditches, culverts, and sensitive cold-water streams. MaineDOT’s approach layers controls that (1) protect bare soil, (2) slow and spread runoff, and (3) capture sediment until vegetation takes over.

Rolled erosion control products (RECPs). On new embankments, slope repairs, and roadside swales, crews install straw, excelsior, coconut/coir, or blended blankets to shield soil and seed from raindrop impact, wind, and meltwater. Straw blankets suit short, gentle slopes and low-velocity swales; heavier coir or straw-coir mats handle longer grades and the higher shear typical of snowmelt and nor’easter runoff. Blankets are trenched at the crest and toe, overlapped shingle-style downslope, and pinned to manufacturer patterns—often with extra anchoring along windy coastal and ridge sites. On tidally influenced banks and lake shores, coir logs are used to toe-in blanket edges and hold the line while vegetation establishes.

Turf reinforcement mats (TRMs). Where velocities exceed what temporary blankets can handle—steep ditches, culvert outlets, inboard swales on grades, or channel bends—synthetic TRMs provide long-life reinforcement. Once vegetation roots through, the composite system resists repeated storm events and drawdown better than bare soil and can reduce the amount of riprap needed in constrained corridors.

Hydraulic mulches and soil binders. Irregular cuts, rocky sections, 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 when a quick protective cover is needed between storm windows. Where straw mulch is used, it’s crimped into the surface and locked with a tackifier or polymer binder so it won’t blow or float away before roots knit the soil.

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 disturbance boundary, silt fence works well in fine-grained tills when trenched and backfilled correctly; on stony shoulders or in tight urban footprints, heavier filter socks provide stability and easier maintenance. Placement aims to intercept sheet flow high on the slope so water never builds erosive energy.

Check structures and channels. Temporary rock or wattle check dams in construction ditches reduce velocities and drop sediment. Spacing is set so each crest ponds water to the toe of the next, creating a stair-step energy dissipator. At culvert outlets, storm outfalls, and tidal transitions, crews pair blankets or TRMs with riprap over an appropriate filter layer; coir logs at the toe keep edges tight until vegetation takes hold. In very high-shear zones or reversing-flow locations, articulated concrete block mats add durability while still 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; sweeping is the backstop, especially where sticky clays cling to tires.

Basins, traps, and stockpiles. Sediment basins or traps intercept runoff from disturbed areas and provide settling time before discharge. Topsoil stockpiles are promptly seeded and mulched or covered; perimeter wattles or fence contain fines during storms.

Seasonal strategy, inspection, and maintenance. With long winters and shoulder-season storms, crews use dormant seeding, mulch plus tackifier, and added anchoring on blankets before shutdowns. Coastal mixes emphasize salt-tolerant natives; inland projects favor cold-hardy species. After major rain, snowmelt, or tidal events, teams repair tears, reset stakes, clean inlet devices, remove accumulated sediment (often at half height), and reseed bare spots. Temporary controls come out once vegetation is established and slopes and channels prove stable.

Bottom line: on MaineDOT projects, erosion control isn’t a single product—it’s a coordinated system that tames snowmelt and nor’easters, protects fisheries and wetlands, and gives vegetation the foothold it needs to lock Maine’s soils in place.

Maine DOT