Don't Dawdle - Install a Wattle
"SID" Captures and Keeps Sediment on Slopes

© 2002 Wendy Dager

In bone dry Arizona, high up behind Kendrick Mountain, workers from the Northern Arizona Conservation Corps carried what looked like huge pretzels, strung together on 12-foot long poles.

        But it wasn't snack time.

        The pretzel-shaped objects were wattles, each taller than the average man, twisted into tubes and then fastened onto poles so Corps members could more easily carry them to their destination.

        The wattles, made of straw and packed into plastic netting, were being used to combat the effects of the lightning-started Pumpkin Fire of May 2000, which incinerated the trees and ground cover that were the once the only form of erosion control in the area.

        Workers had pre-dug 4- to 5-inch trenches, then anchored the wattles in place, repeating the process some 700 times on the south side of Kendrick Mountain.

        While wattles are commonly used in the Pacific Northwest, Arizona officials felt they would be the best method to use in restoring this part of Coconino County to its natural state. With the trees gone, it became the job of the newly-installed wattles to capture sediment and hold it on the site, preventing erosion and sediment pollution.

        Straw wattles slow rain runoff, helping to prevent the rills and gullies that cause the erosion that leaves slopes unable to sustain plant life. They help stabilize the ground so that vegetation can re-establish.

        The use of wattles may be a novelty in Arizona, but the experts at S&S Seeds have known about their effectiveness for a long time. Not only are wattles excellent for fire rehabilitation, but they're suitable for use with stream bank restoration, land reclamation, vineyard erosion protection, and stormwater control.

        Straw wattles filter stormwater runoff and trap sediment. They can be laid along the edge of sidewalks to keep soil on site and prevent it from washing onto pavement or asphalt.

        In California, El Nino-like conditions have been predicted for winter 2002, which may create stormwater problems for S&S customers.

        We encourage you to order our Greenfix America® Straw Wattle Slope Interruption Devices (SID) for your next job.

        SIDs are manufactured from straw wrapped in tubular black plastic netting. These rolls are approximately 8 inches in diameter by 20 to 25 feet long, and are staked in place along the contour of newly constructed or disturbed slopes. The SIDs reduce soil creep and sheet and rill erosion until permanent vegetation gets established.

        They are a relatively low-cost solution to erosion problems, can replace silt fences or straw bales, and store moisture for vegetation planted immediately upslope.

        The plastic netting eventually photodegrades, eliminating the need for retrieval of materials after the straw has broken down.

        The straw becomes incorporated into the soil with time, adding organic material and retaining moisture for vegetation.

        Straw wattles last an average of one to two years, an important factor when planning your job. For more information, call (805) 684-0436 or go to http://www.ssseeds.com/ecb/product_sid.html.

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