Geosynthetics in roads and pavements

Installation in Channels 

Excavate terminal trenches 12-inch (30 cm) 

deep and 6-inch (15 cm) wide across the 

channel at the upper and lower end of the lined 

channel sections.  At 25' intervals along the 

channel, anchor the mat across the channel 

either in 6- x 6-inch (15 x 15 cm) trenches or by 

installing two closely spaced rows of anchors.  

Excavate longitudinal trenches 6-inch (15 cm) 

deep and wide along channel edges (above 

water line) in which to bury the outside mat 

edges.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

RECPs are anchored in trenches at their ends and edges 

and overlapped downslope and in the direction of flow 

 

Place the first mat at the downstream end of the 

channel.  Place the end of the first mat in the 

terminal trench and pin it at one foot (0.3 m) 

intervals along the bottom of the trench. The 

RECP should be placed upside down in the 

trench with the roll on the downstream side of 

the trench. Once pinned and backfilled, the mat 

is deployed by wrapping it over the top of the 

trench and unrolling it upstream.  If the channel 

is wider than the provided rolls, place ends of 

adjacent rolls in the terminal trench, overlapping 

the adjacent rolls a minimum of three feet (1 m).  

Pin at one foot (0.3 m) intervals, backfill and 

compact.  Unroll the RECP in the upstream 

direction until reaching the first intermittent 

trench.  Fold the mat back over itself, 

positioning the roll on the downstream side of 

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                                               GEOSYNTHETICS IN EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL:                                          37 

Hard Armor Systems, Rolled Erosion Control Products, Silt Fence 

For more information please contact the Geosynthetic Materials Association at www.gmanow.com. 

the trench, and allowing the mat to conform to 

the trench.  Then pin the mat (two layers) to the 

bottom of the trench, backfill and compact.   

 

Continue up the channel (wrapping over the top 

of the intermittent trench) repeating this step at 

other intermittent trenches, until reaching the 

upper terminal trench.  At the upper terminal 

trench, allow the mat to conform to the trench 

and secure with pins or staples. Backfill, 

compact, and then bring the mat back over the 

top of the trench and onto the existing mat with 

an overlap of one to three feet (0.6-1.0 m) in the 

downstream direction. Finally pin across the 

mat at intervals of one foot (0.3 m).  

 

When starting installation of a new roll, begin in 

a trench or shingle-lap ends of rolls a minimum 

of one foot (0.3 m) with upstream mat on top to 

prevent uplifting.   Place the outside edges of 

the mat(s) in longitudinal trenches, pin, backfill 

and compact.