An Oregon-based hydroseeding contractor, partner Barry Cook with Northwest Hydro-Mulchers notes that “earth has amazing self-healing properties.”
“I’ve heard it explained a lot like a cut on a human arm,” continues Cook. “If you ignore it, chances are it will get infected and the issues will get complicated. If you clean it and treat it with some type of antibiotic, chances are it’s going to heal cleanly and without a lot of evidence of there being an issue.
“The same thing with earth,” adds Cook. “If we totally disturb a site, we have to do something other than throw on wood fiber mulch and some type of petroleum-based fertilizer. If we can do something that will improve and enhance the soil profile, which is where everything starts, then when we get down the road, we will have created an environment that’s going to support what we all try to achieve with hydroseeding or our erosion control BMPs [best management practices].”
An Oregon-based hydroseeding contractor, partner Barry Cook with Northwest Hydro-Mulchers notes that “earth has amazing self-healing properties.”
“I’ve heard it explained a lot like a cut on a human arm,” continues Cook. “If you ignore it, chances are it will get infected and the issues will get complicated. If you clean it and treat it with some type of antibiotic, chances are it’s going to heal cleanly and without a lot of evidence of there being an issue.
“The same thing with earth,” adds Cook. “If we totally disturb a site, we have to do something other than throw on wood fiber mulch and some type of petroleum-based fertilizer. If we can do something that will improve and enhance the soil profile, which is where everything starts, then when we get down the road, we will have created an environment that’s going to support what we all try to achieve with hydroseeding or our erosion control BMPs [best management practices].”
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Case in point: Beginning in 2013 and continuing through 2014, the US Army Corps of Engineers constructed a new setback levee to replace an eroded section of the Steamboat Slough levee in Cathlamet, WA, at a 68-acre site along the Columbia River.
Cook says the existing levee was the current shoreline of the Columbia River near a wildlife refuge for the Columbian white-tailed deer.
“The existing road that made up this levee along Steamboat Slough was beginning to fail, so the Corps of Engineers decided to create a setback levee as a protection for this natural area,” notes Cook.
The setback levee was constructed behind the old levee, and then channels were dug that created streams between the old and new levees. The J. E. McAmis company served as the contractor on the project.
The project’s goal is flood control and fish restoration. The construction of the setback levee restored tidal wetlands habitat. As a flood control measure, the new levee will protect the Columbian white-tailed deer and its habitat.
Following the work of the general contractor, Cook’s crew did the hydroseeding revegetation work in October 2014.
[text_ad]
Because the soil profile on the impervious side of the levee was difficult to work with, Cook’s crew used PermaMatrix Biotic Soil Amendment from Sunmark Environmental Services. The product is applied hydraulically with a hydroseeding unit and is designed to reduce the impact and cost associated with replacing topsoil and compost. PermaMatrix combines carbon-based fiber, organics, microorganisms, beneficial fungi, water-holding materials, and other soil-like components to create a growing medium designed to be optimal for plant growth. It is designed to be effective in poor soils that need an organic additive and for slopes and channels where the organic content of the subsoil needs a significant boost.
The project was timed “seasonally to coincide with the typical annual precipitation, and it was coupled well with the temperature component that brought germination very quickly,” says Cook.
A combination of native grasses was chosen to revegetate the site. After applying the soil amendment with a hydroseeding unit, crews placed an erosion control layer of wood fiber mulch and tackifier over the PermaMatrix and seed.
“Whenever we use PermaMatrix, we use an erosion control component with it, whether it’s rolled erosion control for slope protection or a bonded fiber matrix application. We’ve done a project with Flexterra over the top of the PermaMatrix,” says Cook.
“We’ll put on a couple of inches of compost or use a compost topsoil blend and start putting on inches of product in order to achieve what we know intuitively to be better. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to walk into your grandma’s backyard, kick her soil, and know whether or not it’s going to grow her tomatoes. The same thing occurs in highly disturbed construction sites or sites requiring some type of reclamation or restoration. Plants need some kind of help.”
[text_ad]
Another critical factor was that the breach project—which entailed cuts in two places—had a specific timeline.
“Once the breach happened, the interior of this slough area would flood at high tide, and there were concerns that there would be complete inundation over the top of these elevated soil mounds that were hydroseeded,” says Cook. “The goal was to get everything done as quickly as possible. We had to seed those soil mounds early because of breach. We had to lay down the PermaMatrix on the impervious side of the levee, but we needed to wait for the construction process on that to be completed.”
Responding quickly to the needs of the general contractor’s tight deadline was one challenge. Another was access. Cook’s team mounted hydroseeding equipment on tracked vehicles for site access.
Germination was achieved in 14 days using this hydroseeding method.
Cook favors PermaMatrix for its ability to “jump start” the soil. “While I can’t attribute 100% the speed of germination to the PermaMatrix application—because we all know that post-plant moisture and temperature is a huge component of how you get any kind of plant community established—we have seen that when we introduce seed to the soil surface and use a product like PermaMatrix, we can jump start the process.”
Cook is pleased with the results of this hydroseeding process and shot time-stamped photos showing the consistent growth “as you would expect from a hydraulic application,” he says.
Case in point: Beginning in 2013 and continuing through 2014, the US Army Corps of Engineers constructed a new setback levee to replace an eroded section of the Steamboat Slough levee in Cathlamet, WA, at a 68-acre site along the Columbia River.
Cook says the existing levee was the current shoreline of the Columbia River near a wildlife refuge for the Columbian white-tailed deer.
“The existing road that made up this levee along Steamboat Slough was beginning to fail, so the Corps of Engineers decided to create a setback levee as a protection for this natural area,” notes Cook.
The setback levee was constructed behind the old levee, and then channels were dug that created streams between the old and new levees. The J. E. McAmis company served as the contractor on the project.
The project’s goal is flood control and fish restoration. The construction of the setback levee restored tidal wetlands habitat. As a flood control measure, the new levee will protect the Columbian white-tailed deer and its habitat.
Following the work of the general contractor, Cook’s crew did the hydroseeding revegetation work in October 2014.
An Oregon-based hydroseeding contractor, partner Barry Cook with Northwest Hydro-Mulchers notes that “earth has amazing self-healing properties.”
“I’ve heard it explained a lot like a cut on a human arm,” continues Cook. “If you ignore it, chances are it will get infected and the issues will get complicated. If you clean it and treat it with some type of antibiotic, chances are it’s going to heal cleanly and without a lot of evidence of there being an issue.
“The same thing with earth,” adds Cook. “If we totally disturb a site, we have to do something other than throw on wood fiber mulch and some type of petroleum-based fertilizer. If we can do something that will improve and enhance the soil profile, which is where everything starts, then when we get down the road, we will have created an environment that’s going to support what we all try to achieve with hydroseeding or our erosion control BMPs [best management practices].”
[text_ad]
Case in point: Beginning in 2013 and continuing through 2014, the US Army Corps of Engineers constructed a new setback levee to replace an eroded section of the Steamboat Slough levee in Cathlamet, WA, at a 68-acre site along the Columbia River.
Cook says the existing levee was the current shoreline of the Columbia River near a wildlife refuge for the Columbian white-tailed deer.
“The existing road that made up this levee along Steamboat Slough was beginning to fail, so the Corps of Engineers decided to create a setback levee as a protection for this natural area,” notes Cook.
The setback levee was constructed behind the old levee, and then channels were dug that created streams between the old and new levees. The J. E. McAmis company served as the contractor on the project.
The project’s goal is flood control and fish restoration. The construction of the setback levee restored tidal wetlands habitat. As a flood control measure, the new levee will protect the Columbian white-tailed deer and its habitat.
Following the work of the general contractor, Cook’s crew did the hydroseeding revegetation work in October 2014.
[text_ad]
Because the soil profile on the impervious side of the levee was difficult to work with, Cook’s crew used PermaMatrix Biotic Soil Amendment from Sunmark Environmental Services. The product is applied hydraulically with a hydroseeding unit and is designed to reduce the impact and cost associated with replacing topsoil and compost. PermaMatrix combines carbon-based fiber, organics, microorganisms, beneficial fungi, water-holding materials, and other soil-like components to create a growing medium designed to be optimal for plant growth. It is designed to be effective in poor soils that need an organic additive and for slopes and channels where the organic content of the subsoil needs a significant boost.
The project was timed “seasonally to coincide with the typical annual precipitation, and it was coupled well with the temperature component that brought germination very quickly,” says Cook.
A combination of native grasses was chosen to revegetate the site. After applying the soil amendment with a hydroseeding unit, crews placed an erosion control layer of wood fiber mulch and tackifier over the PermaMatrix and seed.
“Whenever we use PermaMatrix, we use an erosion control component with it, whether it’s rolled erosion control for slope protection or a bonded fiber matrix application. We’ve done a project with Flexterra over the top of the PermaMatrix,” says Cook.
“We’ll put on a couple of inches of compost or use a compost topsoil blend and start putting on inches of product in order to achieve what we know intuitively to be better. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to walk into your grandma’s backyard, kick her soil, and know whether or not it’s going to grow her tomatoes. The same thing occurs in highly disturbed construction sites or sites requiring some type of reclamation or restoration. Plants need some kind of help.”
[text_ad]
Another critical factor was that the breach project—which entailed cuts in two places—had a specific timeline.
“Once the breach happened, the interior of this slough area would flood at high tide, and there were concerns that there would be complete inundation over the top of these elevated soil mounds that were hydroseeded,” says Cook. “The goal was to get everything done as quickly as possible. We had to seed those soil mounds early because of breach. We had to lay down the PermaMatrix on the impervious side of the levee, but we needed to wait for the construction process on that to be completed.”
Responding quickly to the needs of the general contractor’s tight deadline was one challenge. Another was access. Cook’s team mounted hydroseeding equipment on tracked vehicles for site access.
Germination was achieved in 14 days using this hydroseeding method.
Cook favors PermaMatrix for its ability to “jump start” the soil. “While I can’t attribute 100% the speed of germination to the PermaMatrix application—because we all know that post-plant moisture and temperature is a huge component of how you get any kind of plant community established—we have seen that when we introduce seed to the soil surface and use a product like PermaMatrix, we can jump start the process.”
Cook is pleased with the results of this hydroseeding process and shot time-stamped photos showing the consistent growth “as you would expect from a hydraulic application,” he says.
Because the soil profile on the impervious side of the levee was difficult to work with, Cook’s crew used PermaMatrix Biotic Soil Amendment from Sunmark Environmental Services. The product is applied hydraulically with a hydroseeding unit and is designed to reduce the impact and cost associated with replacing topsoil and compost. PermaMatrix combines carbon-based fiber, organics, microorganisms, beneficial fungi, water-holding materials, and other soil-like components to create a growing medium designed to be optimal for plant growth. It is designed to be effective in poor soils that need an organic additive and for slopes and channels where the organic content of the subsoil needs a significant boost.
The project was timed “seasonally to coincide with the typical annual precipitation, and it was coupled well with the temperature component that brought germination very quickly,” says Cook.
A combination of native grasses was chosen to revegetate the site. After applying the soil amendment with a hydroseeding unit, crews placed an erosion control layer of wood fiber mulch and tackifier over the PermaMatrix and seed.
“Whenever we use PermaMatrix, we use an erosion control component with it, whether it’s rolled erosion control for slope protection or a bonded fiber matrix application. We’ve done a project with Flexterra over the top of the PermaMatrix,” says Cook.
“We’ll put on a couple of inches of compost or use a compost topsoil blend and start putting on inches of product in order to achieve what we know intuitively to be better. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to walk into your grandma’s backyard, kick her soil, and know whether or not it’s going to grow her tomatoes. The same thing occurs in highly disturbed construction sites or sites requiring some type of reclamation or restoration. Plants need some kind of help.”
An Oregon-based hydroseeding contractor, partner Barry Cook with Northwest Hydro-Mulchers notes that “earth has amazing self-healing properties.”
“I’ve heard it explained a lot like a cut on a human arm,” continues Cook. “If you ignore it, chances are it will get infected and the issues will get complicated. If you clean it and treat it with some type of antibiotic, chances are it’s going to heal cleanly and without a lot of evidence of there being an issue.
“The same thing with earth,” adds Cook. “If we totally disturb a site, we have to do something other than throw on wood fiber mulch and some type of petroleum-based fertilizer. If we can do something that will improve and enhance the soil profile, which is where everything starts, then when we get down the road, we will have created an environment that’s going to support what we all try to achieve with hydroseeding or our erosion control BMPs [best management practices].”
[text_ad]
Case in point: Beginning in 2013 and continuing through 2014, the US Army Corps of Engineers constructed a new setback levee to replace an eroded section of the Steamboat Slough levee in Cathlamet, WA, at a 68-acre site along the Columbia River.
Cook says the existing levee was the current shoreline of the Columbia River near a wildlife refuge for the Columbian white-tailed deer.
“The existing road that made up this levee along Steamboat Slough was beginning to fail, so the Corps of Engineers decided to create a setback levee as a protection for this natural area,” notes Cook.
The setback levee was constructed behind the old levee, and then channels were dug that created streams between the old and new levees. The J. E. McAmis company served as the contractor on the project.
The project’s goal is flood control and fish restoration. The construction of the setback levee restored tidal wetlands habitat. As a flood control measure, the new levee will protect the Columbian white-tailed deer and its habitat.
Following the work of the general contractor, Cook’s crew did the hydroseeding revegetation work in October 2014.
[text_ad]
Because the soil profile on the impervious side of the levee was difficult to work with, Cook’s crew used PermaMatrix Biotic Soil Amendment from Sunmark Environmental Services. The product is applied hydraulically with a hydroseeding unit and is designed to reduce the impact and cost associated with replacing topsoil and compost. PermaMatrix combines carbon-based fiber, organics, microorganisms, beneficial fungi, water-holding materials, and other soil-like components to create a growing medium designed to be optimal for plant growth. It is designed to be effective in poor soils that need an organic additive and for slopes and channels where the organic content of the subsoil needs a significant boost.
The project was timed “seasonally to coincide with the typical annual precipitation, and it was coupled well with the temperature component that brought germination very quickly,” says Cook.
A combination of native grasses was chosen to revegetate the site. After applying the soil amendment with a hydroseeding unit, crews placed an erosion control layer of wood fiber mulch and tackifier over the PermaMatrix and seed.
“Whenever we use PermaMatrix, we use an erosion control component with it, whether it’s rolled erosion control for slope protection or a bonded fiber matrix application. We’ve done a project with Flexterra over the top of the PermaMatrix,” says Cook.
“We’ll put on a couple of inches of compost or use a compost topsoil blend and start putting on inches of product in order to achieve what we know intuitively to be better. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to walk into your grandma’s backyard, kick her soil, and know whether or not it’s going to grow her tomatoes. The same thing occurs in highly disturbed construction sites or sites requiring some type of reclamation or restoration. Plants need some kind of help.”
[text_ad]
Another critical factor was that the breach project—which entailed cuts in two places—had a specific timeline.
“Once the breach happened, the interior of this slough area would flood at high tide, and there were concerns that there would be complete inundation over the top of these elevated soil mounds that were hydroseeded,” says Cook. “The goal was to get everything done as quickly as possible. We had to seed those soil mounds early because of breach. We had to lay down the PermaMatrix on the impervious side of the levee, but we needed to wait for the construction process on that to be completed.”
Responding quickly to the needs of the general contractor’s tight deadline was one challenge. Another was access. Cook’s team mounted hydroseeding equipment on tracked vehicles for site access.
Germination was achieved in 14 days using this hydroseeding method.
Cook favors PermaMatrix for its ability to “jump start” the soil. “While I can’t attribute 100% the speed of germination to the PermaMatrix application—because we all know that post-plant moisture and temperature is a huge component of how you get any kind of plant community established—we have seen that when we introduce seed to the soil surface and use a product like PermaMatrix, we can jump start the process.”
Cook is pleased with the results of this hydroseeding process and shot time-stamped photos showing the consistent growth “as you would expect from a hydraulic application,” he says.
Another critical factor was that the breach project—which entailed cuts in two places—had a specific timeline.
“Once the breach happened, the interior of this slough area would flood at high tide, and there were concerns that there would be complete inundation over the top of these elevated soil mounds that were hydroseeded,” says Cook. “The goal was to get everything done as quickly as possible. We had to seed those soil mounds early because of breach. We had to lay down the PermaMatrix on the impervious side of the levee, but we needed to wait for the construction process on that to be completed.”
Responding quickly to the needs of the general contractor’s tight deadline was one challenge. Another was access. Cook’s team mounted hydroseeding equipment on tracked vehicles for site access.
Germination was achieved in 14 days using this hydroseeding method.
Cook favors PermaMatrix for its ability to “jump start” the soil. “While I can’t attribute 100% the speed of germination to the PermaMatrix application—because we all know that post-plant moisture and temperature is a huge component of how you get any kind of plant community established—we have seen that when we introduce seed to the soil surface and use a product like PermaMatrix, we can jump start the process.”
Cook is pleased with the results of this hydroseeding process and shot time-stamped photos showing the consistent growth “as you would expect from a hydraulic application,” he says.
