The Brazoria County Municipal Utility District No. 36 (BCMUD 36) Board of Directors voted and approved work on the south pond slopes to address ongoing erosion issues, particularly on the northeast side. To address the concerns, work began to return the slopes to their original design.
The process began with dirt fill to rebuild the slopes, resetting the foundation to allow a special material, Flexamat, to be installed and secure the soil to prevent further erosion.
Flexamat has a few key benefits that make it perfect for working along the slopes:
- Erosion control
- Flexibility
- Durability
- Vegetation Regrowth
- Environmentally Friendly
Flexamat is made of concrete blocks that work together to create a strong, stable, and flexible surface that prevents soil erosion and protects from water runoff. This flexibility allows it to contour to the land making it ideal for sloped areas.
It’s made to last long-term and can withstand the wear and tear of rain, storms, weather, and water damage. The unique design allows soil to fill in between the spaces of the concrete blocks, which in-turn, allows vegetation growth, further helping to stabilize the material and earth around it. Over time, this promotes biodiversity and benefits ongoing erosion control.
The installation process involved trenching both the top and bottom of the slopes, then the Flexamat was unrolled and anchored into place with large staples. Once installed, a layer of topsoil was applied atop the Flexamat covering the concrete, filling the space between the blocks.
Afterward, to promote growth and help stabilize the slopes, a hydro-mulch truck was used to spray seed and fertilizer over the area. This is used to encourage growth of vegetation through the Flexamat to further solidify it in place and ultimately create a natural, permanent structure to protect the slopes from future erosion.
