Thanks to North American Green BioNet erosion control blankets, Highway 14 the runs through Yellowstone National Park is full of vegetation and erosion free:

1. BioNet™ Blankets Protecting Soil, Water,
and Wildlife Near Yellowstone
Background
On March 1, 1872, 2.2 million acres of majestic, seemingly boundless
wilderness was “dedicated and set apart as a public park or pleasuring
ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people” and “for the
preservation, from injury or spoliation, of all timber, mineral deposits,
natural curiosities, or wonders…and their retention in their natural
condition.” It was with this Act of Congress that the diverse wildlife,
abundant geysers and hot springs of the world’s first and oldest national
park were forever protected. This land, located near Cody, Wyoming,
was embossed with the name Yellowstone.
Presently, 370 miles of paved roads thread like thick veins through the
park, twisting through the narrow valleys and steep slopes of the Rocky
Mountains. Being largely devoid of vegetation due to construction
activities, the flanking slopes along a few sections of these roads are
exposed to severe wind and water erosion. Moreover, because
excessive sediment deposition in waterways would endanger the area’s
abundant fresh water fish population, and erosion generally scars
aesthetic qualities, a comprehensive erosion control plan was mandated.
As part of the U.S. Forest Service erosion control plan, only 100%
biodegradable erosion control products are allowed for use inside or
near the park’s boundary. One important reason for specifying only
biodegradable products near the park is wildlife. The park’s abundant wildlife population is second to none in the contiguous
United States, and history has shown that animals of all sizes are prone to entanglement in the plastic net structures found
with some erosion control products. For the benefit of wildlife in and around the park, the reconstruction plans for Highway
14 exclude the use of all plastic netting materials.
Problem
Highway 14 travels adjacent to the North Fork Shoshone River and forms the east
entrance to Yellowstone National Park near Cody Peak. Reconstruction specific to 16.50
km (10.25 miles) of Highway 14 just outside the park’s boundary, in Shoshone National
Forest, left a significant amount of the area’s characteristically dry, rocky volcanic soils
unvegetated. It was desirable to quickly revegetate these bare roadside slopes and
channels before any serious soil erosion took place. Not an easy task considering the
relatively infertile soil and the fact that the area only receives 38 cm (15 in) of rain per
year. Thus, any erosion control/revegetation product used must do much more than
provide excellent erosion control and be 100% biodegradable. It was imperative for the
material to possess excellent mulching capabilities which would regulate soil surface
temperatures and effectively retain moisture at the seed bed in order to quickly promote
seed germination and early plant growth.
case study - volume 5 number 1

2. case study - volume 5 number 1
Solution
After reviewing several proposals and various products, the Wyoming
Department of Transportation elected to use North American Green’s
BioNet™ erosion control blankets – supplied by Culverts and Industrial
Supply Company of Mills, WY – to fulfill their erosion control and
revegetation needs. The Wyoming DOT specified North American
Green’s SC150BN for use on the roadside slopes, and for the drainage
swales alongside the road, the C125BN was specified. Because the
matrix of the SC150BN features a mixture of 70% straw and 30%
coconut fiber, the blanket has a significantly greater functional longevity
(approximately 18 months) than most 100% straw blankets – an
increase in functionality desperately needed in this dry western climate where vegetation often requires two growing
seasons to achieve full maturity. The C125BN, with its dense 100% coconut fiber matrix, provided increased shear stress
resistance and a functional longevity of 24 months for the small drainage swales alongside the roadway. This increased
ability to resist shear stress would be very important when spring snow melt from the high mountain slopes concentrates in
the narrow roadside channels.
Both the SC150BN and the C125BN employ two woven jute nettings which are 100% biodegradable. This netting material –
when compared to polypropylene nettings—proves very effective in retaining moisture and contouring to the soil surface,
providing a higher level of erosion protection. In addition, the jute netting on the BioNet products is constructed with a
“Leno” weave which allows the strands of the netting to move independently of each other yet still maintain the structural
integrity of the net. A net configuration such as this minimizes the risk of wildlife entanglement without compromising
erosion control performance.
Results
Aside from an occasional curious bison or bull elk, installation of the
erosion control blankets went smoothly; thanks in part to the BioNet’s
unique construction, no animals were harmed by the area’s human
activities. Altogether over 146,400 m2 (175,093 yd2) of erosion control
blankets were installed along Highway 14 to re-establish vegetation and
prevent soil from washing into North Fork Shoshone River. Observing
the site just one year after seeding and blanket installation, it is
indisputable how well the SC150BN and C125BN performed in
controlling erosion and enhancing seed germination. Native seed
planted under the blankets has sprouted and matured (in one growing
season) into a thick mat of brown, green, and red grasses, further
exemplifying the mulching characteristics - moisture retention - abilities
of the SC150BN and C125BN erosion control blankets. Moreover, there
were no visible signs of erosion occurring on this site. The vegetation
will now provide the primary means of erosion control and the annual
production of seeds from this native vegetation will ensure a thick
vegetative stand in the future. During the course of the next 12-18
months the BioNet blanket’s biological degradation will be nearly
complete, with the only indication its installation ever took place being
the thick layer of vegetation now growing along Highway 14.
the global authority in erosion control technology
14649 Highway 41 North | Evansville, Indiana 47711
800-772-2040 | 812-867-6632 | Canada: 800-448-2040
www.nagreen.com