South Carolina SCDOT Erosion Control Products

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

South Carolina SCDOT - Erosion Control Methods

South Carolina projects span loose Coastal Plain sands and tidal marsh deposits in the Lowcountry, red Piedmont clays through the Midlands, and steep Blue Ridge foothills upstate. Add hurricanes, tropical downpours, flashy streams, and high water tables, and freshly disturbed ground can ravel fast while ditches cut and deliver sediment to wetlands and culverts. SCDOT’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 and wind. Straw blankets suit short, gentle slopes and low-velocity swales; heavier coir or straw-coir mats handle longer grades and higher shear typical of tropical downpours. Blankets are trenched at crest and toe, overlapped shingle-style, and pinned to manufacturer patterns—often with extra anchoring along the coast where gusts and salt spray test fasteners. Along tidal creeks and lake margins, coir logs toe-in blanket edges and hold the line until roots knit the soil.

Turf-reinforcement mats (TRMs). Where velocities exceed blanket limits—steep ditch segments, culvert outlets, sharp bends, and drawdown zones—synthetic TRMs provide durable reinforcement. Once vegetation roots through, the composite resists repeated storm events and tidal fluctuations better than bare soil and can reduce the amount of riprap needed in constrained corridors, improving maintenance and appearance.


Hydraulic mulches and soil binders. Irregular cuts and broad slopes are stabilized with hydroseed plus hydromulch, bonded fiber matrix (BFM), or flexible growth media (FGM). BFMs form a breathable crust that resists sheet flow yet allows germination—ideal for quick cover between storm windows. On sandy or drought-prone sites, straw mulch is crimped into the surface and locked with tackifier or polymer binder so it won’t blow or float away before roots establish.

Slope interrupters and perimeter controls. Fiber rolls (wattles) and compost filter socks, placed on contour, break long slope lengths into shorter runs, slow water, and trap sediment before rills form. At the disturbance boundary, silt fence excels in Piedmont clays when trenched and backfilled correctly; on sandy shoulders or tight urban footprints, heavier filter socks add stability and simplify 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 out sediment. Spacing is set so each crest ponds water to the toe of the next, creating stair-step energy dissipation. At culvert outlets, storm outfalls, and coastal 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 or reversing-flow locations, 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; sweeping backs them up, especially where sticky clays cling to tires.

Basins, traps, stockpiles, and seeding. 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. Coastal projects favor salt-tolerant native mixes and higher mulch rates; inland and upstate corridors use region-appropriate blends matched to aspect and moisture.

Inspection and maintenance. After major rains or surge events, teams 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 dense and slopes and channels prove stable.

Bottom line: on SCDOT 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 tropical storms and cloudbursts, protect waterways and wetlands, and give vegetation the foothold it needs to lock South Carolina’s soils in place.

South Carolina SCDOT