Wyoming WYDOT Erosion Control Products

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

Wyoming WYDOT - Erosion Control Methods

Wyoming jobs face high winds, intense UV at altitude, long freeze–thaw seasons, spring snowmelt, and sudden cloudbursts. Those conditions can strip soil from steep cuts, overtop ditches, and deliver sediment to rivers and culverts. WYDOT pairs thoughtful phasing with a toolbox of erosion and sediment controls to keep soil in place and water clean.

Rolled erosion control products (RECPs). On new embankments, slope repairs, and ditch reshapes, crews deploy straw, excelsior, coconut/coir, or blended blankets. Light straw blankets protect short, gentle slopes and low-velocity swales; heavier coconut or straw–coconut mats handle longer slopes and higher shear in roadside ditches. Crews key blankets into anchor trenches at the crest and toe, shingle laps downslope, and pin them in wind-resistant patterns—critical on I-80’s wind corridor. Where flows are stronger or slopes exceed blanket limits, turf-reinforcement mats (TRMs) provide a long-life synthetic scaffold that, once vegetated, resists repeated runoff.

Hydraulic mulches and soil binders. For large, irregular areas and rocky cuts, hydraulically applied mulches (hydromulch, bonded fiber matrix, and flexible growth media) deliver seed, fiber, and tackifier in a single pass. BFMs form a continuous crust that stays put through storm events yet allows germination. On drier sites or late-season work, soil binders help hold straw mulch that’s crimped into the surface, reducing wind loss until roots take over.

Perimeter and linear controls. To intercept sheet flow and trap sediment near the disturbance, crews install silt fence where soils are fine-grained and wattles/compost filter socks where access is easier or the ground is stony. On long slopes, wattles act as slope interrupters placed on contour to slow runoff and shorten flow length. Rock or wattle check dams in temporary channels reduce velocities and capture bedload; spacing is set so each dam’s crest backs water to the toe of the next. At site entrances, stabilized construction exits (rock over geotextile) limit track-out, with street sweeping as a backstop.

Channels, culverts, and outfalls. High-energy outlets and snowmelt peaks demand armoring. Crews use coir logs to toe-in blanket edges, transition to heavier mats in bends, and place riprap over geotextile in stilling basins and aprons to resist scour. In very high velocities, articulated concrete blocks or TRMs filled with soil and seed offer durable protection that can still support vegetation.

Inlet protection and stockpile management. Curb socks, drop-inlet inserts, and gravel rings around grates prevent sediment surges from overwhelming storm systems. Topsoil stockpiles are stabilized quickly with seeding and mulch or covered; perimeter wattles or silt fence keep fines on site.

Seeding strategies. Short growing seasons drive choices: dormant seeding in late fall, native mixes matched to elevation and aspect, and fertilizer only where needed to avoid lush but shallow root systems. On south-facing or windy cuts, coir-rich blankets and higher mulch rates improve moisture retention.

Winterization and resilience. If hard weather arrives mid-build, crews button up with temporary seed, mulch with tackifier, secure blankets, and add extra anchoring. Wildlife-friendly, photodegradable netting reduces entanglement risks where pronghorn and sage-grouse range.

Inspection and maintenance. After significant runoff or wind events, teams repair tears, reset stakes, remove sediment at inlets and fence lines (commonly at half-height), and reseed bare spots. Controls are removed once vegetation is established and slopes are stable.

Bottom line: on WYDOT projects, erosion control is not one product—it’s a layered system. Blankets, TRMs, hydraulic mulches, wattles, silt fence, check dams, and inlet protection work together to tame wind and water, protect streams and culverts, and give vegetation the foothold it needs to lock Wyoming’s soils in place.

Wyoming WYDOT