Performance testing of erosion control products - What have we learned after five complete evaluation cycles?

This paper addresses the results of the first five complete evaluation cycles of the Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT) formal performance evaluation program for rolled and spray-on erosion control and revegetation products as conducted at the TxDOT/TTI Hydraulics and Erosion Control Laboratory. Since 1991, the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI), under a contract with TxDOT, has conducted performance evaluations on 57 individual products submitted by industry for possible use within TxDOT's construction or maintenance operations. These products have been submitted for approval under slope protection, flexible channel liner and standard hydraulic mulch applications. This paper addresses the issue of standardized terminology for rolled and spray-on erosion control products, and for standard hydraulic mulch products, and summarizes the performance of these 57 products based upon the adopted terminology.