Missouri MODOT Erosion Control Products

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

Missouri MODOT - Erosion Control Methods

Missouri work zones span claypan soils across the north, thick loess along river bluffs, alluvial sands and silts in the Bootheel, and karstic limestone terrain in the Ozarks. Add spring cloudbursts, summer thunderstorms, periodic flooding on the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, and winter freeze–thaw, and freshly graded slopes can ravel fast while ditches cut and deliver sediment to culverts and streams. MoDOT 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 and wind. Straw blankets fit short, gentle slopes and low-velocity swales; heavier coir or straw-coir mats handle longer grades and higher shear typical of thunderstorm runoff. Blankets are trenched at the crest and toe, overlapped shingle-style downslope, and pinned per manufacturer patterns—with extra anchoring on exposed ridgetops and along river corridors. On banks and channel toes, coir logs help seat blanket edges and hold the line until vegetation roots.

Turf-reinforcement mats (TRMs). Where velocities exceed blanket limits—steep ditch reaches, culvert outlets, tight bends, and rapid drawdown areas—synthetic TRMs provide long-life reinforcement. Once roots knit through the mat, the vegetated composite withstands repeated storm events better than bare soil and can reduce the amount of riprap needed in constrained rights-of-way.

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. 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 secure the profile; higher tack rates are common on loess and other easily detached soils.

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 fine-grained clays when trenched and backfilled correctly; on stony shoulders or near traffic, heavier filter socks provide stability and easier maintenance. The goal is to intercept 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 sediment. Spacing is set so each crest ponds to the toe of the next, creating stair-step energy dissipation. At culvert outlets, storm outfalls, and stream transitions, crews pair RECPs or TRMs with riprap over an appropriate filter layer; coir logs keep toes tight until vegetation takes hold. In very high-shear zones, 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; 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 time before discharge. Topsoil stockpiles are promptly seeded and mulched or covered; perimeter wattles or fence contain fines during storms.

Seasonal strategy and upkeep. Timing targets reliable moisture: dormant seeding in late fall, spring windows for cool-season grasses, and warm-season natives on prairie corridors. After major rains or freeze–thaw cycles, crews repair tears, reset stakes, clean inlet devices, remove accumulated sediment (often at half-height), and reseed bare spots. Temporary controls are removed once vegetation is established and slopes and channels prove stable.

Bottom line: on MoDOT projects, erosion control isn’t one product—it’s a layered system that tames thunderstorms and floods, protects waterways, and gives vegetation the foothold it needs to lock Missouri’s soils in place.

Missouri MODOT