- Gabion Baskets
Gabion retaining structures are rectangular wire mesh baskets filled with rock at the project site to form flexible, permeable, monolithic structures such as gabion retaining walls for commercial, industrial and road projects. They are also used for erosion control for bank stabilization, channel linings, and gabion weirs. Gabion strength lies in their double twisted hexagonal mesh of steel wire which is reinforced by selvedges of heavier wire running along the edges and by transverse diaphragms. The wire will not unravel even when cut. Assembly is easy, requiring no specialized labor and nearby rock is used for fill.
Gabion retaining structures are available with different levels of protective coating for durability. With 30% voids, gabion structures offer free drainage providing a higher bank stability when used for river bank protection.
- Erosion Matting
Erosion matting consists of a wide variety of organic or synthetic mats and blankets placed on the soil surface to reduce erosion from a site caused by concentrated runoff and raindrop impact. These devices are anchored to the exposed surface and help hold the soil in place by forcing runoff to pass through the matting, reducing its velocity and its ability to erode the exposed surface.
This practice is often used on sites where the gradient of the slope is such that mulching, by itself, is ineffective. It is implemented on slopes and in conveyance channels after final grading to prevent erosion and promote the establishment of permanent vegetation.
