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Contractor Resources
Erosion Control Toolbox
Tools
To Combine Specifications
Planning & Design
Improve Soil Health
- Soils Testing
- Local Topsoil
- Imported Topsoil
- Roughen Soil Surface
- Stepped Slopes
- Contour Grading and Slope Rounding
- Decompact Soil
- Soil Nutrients
- Incorporate Materials
Improve Soil Health & Provide Cover
Short Term Cover
Long Term Cover
Steep Slope Techniques
- Stepped Slope
- Cellular Confinement
- RECP Flap
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Planting
- Plant Selection
- TransPlant Application
- Noxious and Invasive Species
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Stormwater Treatment
Low Impact Development
- Overview
- Sidewalk Stormwater Planter
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- Parking Stormwater Planters
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- Additional Resources
Sediment Control
References
Bonded Fiber Matrix

What is This Treatment?
Bonded fiber matrix consists of a wood or wood/paper fiber blanket bonded together by a polymer tackifier.
The Bonded Fiber Matrix specification includes the following steps:
- A hydroseed truck sprays wood fiber and tackifier from one direction.
- A hydroseed truck sprays wood fiber and tackifier from a second direction.
When to Use This Treatment:
- Use for cut and fill slopes and other disturbed soil areas.
- Typically used to treat disturbed areas larger than 0.5 acres. Consider using Dry Seeding to hand-seed areas less than 0.5 acres.
Benefits:
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Immediate protection from surface erosion due to raindrop impact (after 24-48 hour cure period).
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Conforms closely to the soil surface which may result in less erosion due to surface rilling.
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Vegetation provided by seed provides long-term control of erosion.
Limitations:
- Higher application rates required for steeper slopes may inhibit germination of seed and establishment of long-term vegetation.
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Surface treatment only - unlikely to improve compacted, nutrient depleted, or poorly draining soils as necessary to ensure vigorous long term vegetative cover.
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Inefficient technique to treat disturbed areas less than 0.5 acres. Consider using the Dry Seeding specification instead.
Consider Using With:
To effectively treat sites where Erosion Control (Bonded Fiber Matrix) may not stay in place, consider combining this treatment with:
To effectively treat sites with poor soils (compacted, nutrient depleted, or poorly draining), consider combining this treatment with:
Specifications:
- 2010 Standard Specifications (See Section 21-1.02K and 21-1.03J BFM)
- 2010 Revised Standard Specifications (RSS)
Plans and Details:
Examples of how to specify the use of Straw on the project plans:

- Sample Erosion Control Legend (PDF Version)
- Sample Erosion Control Legend (.DGN Microstation CAD Version)
Estimate Information:
- Click here to view current awarded bid prices for Bonded Fiber Matrix.
- Click here for a 1997 cost survey of Erosion Control pricing.
- Use BEES code 210250 Bonded Fiber Matrix for payment by square feet.
- Use BEES code 210251 Bonded Fiber Matrix for payment by acre.
Guidance:
- H. Dana Bowers, et al. 1947. Erosion Control on California State Highways
- California Department of Transportation, "TransPlant Seed and Plant Selection Tool", August 2009.
- California Department of Transportation, "Roadside Erosion Control Management Study (RECM)", May 2008.
- California Department of Transportation, "Effective Planting Techniques to Minimize Erosion", January 2004.
References:
- Caltrans Transportation Lab - California Test 226 - Determination of Moisture Content by Oven Drying
- Water-Holding Capacity for Hydromulch Technical Report (CA-DOT-TL-2167-1-76-36)
External Links:
- David Steinfield, Scott Riley, Kim Wilkinson, Thomas D. Landis, Lee Riley, et al. 2007. "Roadside Revegetation, An Integrated Approach to Establishing Native Plants" Accessed 2009-07-16
- Michael Hogan, 2009. "Sediment Source Control Handbook, An Adaptive Approach to Restoration of Disturbed Areas" Accessed 2009-07-16.
Updated 11-21-2012

