Erosion Control Toolbox
The purpose of the Caltrans Erosion Control Toolbox is to provide Landscape Architects with a single location that contains the information necessary to design successful, cost-effective and sustainable erosion control treatments. This toolbox serves as a one-stop reference for:
- Erosion Control Treatments
- Erosion Control Best Management Practices
- Erosion Control Standards
- Erosion Control Guidance
Sustainable Erosion Control Treatments
The Caltrans Technical Guide to Erosion Control Treatment offers tools to assist in the design of sustainable erosion controls on project sites.
Erosion Control Best Management Practices
The table below provides a general overview of various erosion control Best Management Practices (BMPs). Select the erosion control treatment(s) best suited to address deficiencies identified with a project.
Click on the hyper-link at left to obtain more specific information regarding a BMP.
Improve Soil Health
| Erosion Control Treatments | Max Slope (H:V) [See Legend Below] | Cut or Fill? | Benefits [See Legend Below] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Description | 4:1 | 3:1 | 2:1 | 1.5:1 | 1:1 | Soil Cover (1) | Soil Health (2) | Infiltration (3) | |
| Roughen Soil | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended | Not Recommended | Cut/Fill | Low | Medium | Medium |
| Decompact Soil | Recommended | Recommended | Not Recommended | Not Recommended | Not Recommended | Cut/Fill | Low | Medium | High |
| Stepped Slopes | Not Applicable | Recommended | Recommended | Check with Geotechnical Engineer | Not Recommended | Cut | Low | Medium | Medium |
| Preserve Existing Topsoil | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended | Check with Geotechnical Engineer | Not Recommended | Cut/Fill | Low | High | Medium |
| Imported Topsoil | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended | Check with Geotechnical Engineer | Not Recommended | Cut/Fill | Low | Medium | Medium |
| Incorporate Materials | Recommended | Recommended | Check with Geotechnical Engineer | Not Recommended | Not Recommended | Cut/Fill | Low | High | High |
Provide Soil Cover and Improve Soil Health
| Erosion Control Treatments | Max Slope (H:V) [See Legend Below] | Cut or Fill? | Benefits [See Legend Below] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Description | 4:1 | 3:1 | 2:1 | 1.5:1 | 1:1 | Soil Cover (1) | Soil Health (2) | Infiltration (3) | |
| Duff | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended | Check with Geotechnical Engineer | Not Recommended | Cut/Fill | Medium | High | Medium |
| Mulch | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended | Check with Geotechnical Engineer | Not Recommended | Cut/Fill | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Compost Blanket | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended | Not Recommended | Not Recommended | Cut/Fill | Medium | High | High |
Provide Short Term Soil Cover
| Erosion Control Treatments | Max Slope (H:V) [See Legend Below] | Cut or Fill? | Benefits [See Legend Below] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Description | 4:1 | 3:1 | 2:1 | 1.5:1 | 1:1 | Soil Cover (1) | Soil Health (2) | Infiltration (3) | |
| Straw | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended | Not Recommended | Not Recommended | Fill | Medium | Low | |
| Hydroseed | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended | Not Recommended | Not Recommended | Cut/Fill | Medium | Low | Low |
| Bonded Fiber Matrix | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended | Medium | Cut/Fill | Medium | Low | Low |
| RECP Jute Mesh | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended | Not Recommended | Not Recommended | Cut/Fill | Medium | Low | Low |
Provide Long Term Soil Cover
| Erosion Control Treatments | Max Slope (H:V) [See Legend Below] | Cut or Fill? | Benefits [See Legend Below] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Description | 4:1 | 3:1 | 2:1 | 1.5:1 | 1:1 | Soil Cover (1) | Soil Health (2) | Infiltration (3) | |
| RECP Netting (Type A) | Recommended | Recommended | Not Recommended | Not Recommended | Not Recommended | Cut/Fill | High | Low | Low |
| RECP Netting (Type B) | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended | Check with Geotechnical Engineer | Cut/Fill | High | Low | Low |
| RECP Netting (Type C) | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended | Check with Geotechnical Engineer | Cut/Fill | High | Low | Low |
|
RECP Blanket (Type A) |
Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Recommended | Recommended | Check with Geotechnical Engineer | Cut/Fill | High | Low | Low |
|
RECP Blanket (Type B) |
Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Recommended | Recommended | Check with Geotechnical Engineer | Cut/Fill | High | Low | Low |
|
RECP Blanket (Type C) |
Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Recommended | Recommended | Check with Geotechnical Engineer | Cut/Fill | High | Low | Low |
| RECP TRM (Type A) | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Recommended | Recommended | Not Recommended | Cut/Fill | High | Low | Low |
| RECP TRM (Type B) | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended | Cut/Fill | High | Low | Low |
| RECP TRM (Type C) | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended | Cut/Fill | High | Low | Low |
Steep Slope Techniques
| Erosion Control Treatments | Max Slope (H:V) [See Legend Below] | Cut or Fill? | Benefits [See Legend Below] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Description | 4:1 | 3:1 | 2:1 | 1.5:1 | 1:1 | Soil Cover (1) | Soil Health (2) | Infiltration (3) | |
| Stepped Slopes | Not Applicable | Recommended | Recommended | Medium | Not Recommended | Cut | High | Medium | Medium |
| Brush Layering | Not Applicable | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended | Not Recommended | Fill | High | Medium | Medium |
| RECP Flap | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Recommended | Recommended | Not Recommended | Fill | High | Medium | Medium |
| RECP Wrap | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Recommended | Recommended | Not Recommended | Fill | High | Medium | Medium |
| Soil Filled RSP | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Medium | Recommended | Not Recommended | Cut | High | Medium | Medium |
| Cellular Confinement | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Recommended | Recommended | Not Recommended | Cut | High | Medium | Medium |
| Wire Blanket | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Recommended | Recommended | Cut | High | Medium | Medium |
| Wire Mesh Confinement | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Recommended | Recommended | Fill | High | Medium | Medium |
- Treatments rated highly beneficial for soil cover include those that provide protection from raindrop impact and splash erosion. Treatments that provide good cover include mulches, compost, fiber included with hydroseeding, and rolled erosion control nets and blankets.
- Treatments rated highly beneficial for soil health include those that improve soil texture, soil structure, fertility, and soil microbiology. Treatments that notably improve soil health include compost incorporate, duff, and reusing local topsoil.
- Treatments rated highly beneficial for infiltration include those that slow runoff, improve soil structure and open up the soil texture to increase infiltration of stormwater rather than encourage runoff. Treatments that notably improve infiltration include incorporate materials, roughen soil and preserve existing topsoil.
Erosion Control Standards
Planning, Design and Establishment
Improve Soil Health
- Soil Rehabilitation
- Preserve Existing Topsoil
- Imported Soil
- Roughen Soil Surface
- Contour Grading and Slope Rounding
- Decompact Soil Surface
- Incorporate Materials
Improve Soil Health & Provide Cover
Short Term Cover
Long Term Cover
Steep Slope Techniques
- Stepped Slope
- Cellular Confinement
- RECP Flap
- RECP Flap with Brush Layering
- RECP Wrap
- Soil Filled RSP
- Wire Blanket
- Wire Mesh Confinement
Planting
- Specifying Seed and Plant Species (Newly added DSA & Species List)
- Noxious and Invasive Species
- Drill Seed
- Dry Seed
- Native Grass Sod
- Liners and Seedling
- Brush Layering
Stormwater Treatment
Low Impact Development
- Sidewalk Stormwater Planter
- Sidewalk Stormwater Tree Trench
- Parking Stormwater Planters
- Permeable Paving