Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2006GA118B

Investigating the use of compost for sediment and erosion control in concentrated flow conditions

Institute: Georgia
Year Established: 2006 Start Date: 2006-03-01 End Date: 2008-02-29
Total Federal Funds: $36,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $72,428

Principal Investigators: Lawrence Risse, Xianben Zhu

Project Summary: Erosion and sediment control from development and construction activities is a major water quality issue in rapidly growing areas in Georgia. New Federal and State regulations are requiring improved erosion and sediment control and the State is developing improved educational programs for developers, building contractors, inspectors, designers, plan reviewers, and government officials. These programs will require improved methods of sediment and erosion control. Compost blankets and compost filter berms are one such technology that is rapidly being adopt and utilized in Georgia. Previous research by the principle investigator and others around the country has proven that compost blankets can control erosion as well or better than traditional methods under normal rainfall and sheet flow conditions. Many contractors and other professionals have adopted this technology and some are using it under conditions that have not been proven. Very little research has been done to indicate how compost blankets will repsond under concentrated flow conditions. Without such information, designers and regulatory officials can not make decisions concerning its applicability. The purpose of this research will be to develop models of how compost blankets will react to concentrated flow conditions. Initial lab studies will be conducted in flumes to determine if compost materials conform to shear stress and rill erodibility relationships that govern the erosion and transport of soil particles and to determine rill erodbility and critical shear stress parameters for a variety of compost materials. These will be followed by field studies to validate the relationships determined in the lab. These studies will provide design and regulatory proffesionals with the information they need to insure that water quality is protected and that Georgia remains on the cutting edge of applying new erosion control technologies.