Erosion control material is a broad category covering every product and practice used to protect disturbed soil from wind and water erosion. Choosing the right material requires matching product performance to site conditions — slope steepness, channel flow velocity, time to vegetation establishment, environmental sensitivity, and budget. This guide walks through the main categories of erosion control materials and the decision framework for selecting them.

Types of Erosion Control Materials

Excelsior: The Premium Natural Erosion Control Material

Excelsior — curled aspen wood fiber — is the most widely specified natural material for erosion control blankets in the United States. Its performance advantages over straw and synthetic alternatives stem from three physical properties:

• Natural curl: The curled fiber structure creates a three-dimensional interlocking matrix that holds together without adhesives. This gives excelsior blankets their structural integrity and resistance to hydraulic displacement on slopes and in channels.
• Hygroscopic moisture retention: Excelsior naturally attracts and holds moisture from the surrounding environment. Beneath an excelsior blanket, the soil-blanket interface maintains higher moisture levels than bare soil, which dramatically improves seed germination rates — even during dry periods following installation.
• Seed-free material: Great Lakes Aspen excelsior does not contain viable weed seeds, unlike straw-based erosion control materials that can introduce invasive species to restoration sites.

Curlex, manufactured by American Excelsior Company, is the leading brand of excelsior erosion control blanket and is available in several configurations to match different application requirements.

Erosion Control Blankets vs. Turf Reinforcement Mats

The most important decision in erosion control material selection for slopes and channels is whether to use a temporary erosion control blanket (ECB) or a permanent turf reinforcement mat (TRM).

Erosion Control Blankets (ECBs)

ECBs are designed to protect bare soil and promote vegetation establishment. Once vegetation is established, the blanket has fulfilled its purpose and begins to degrade. For most construction site and highway revegetation applications, ECBs are the appropriate choice — vegetation establishment is the goal, and the blanket's job ends when it succeeds.

ECB selection is primarily driven by:

• Slope steepness (gentle vs. steep)
• Channel flow velocity (fps)
• Time to vegetation establishment (short vs. multi-season)
• Environmental requirements (netting type, biodegradability)

Turf Reinforcement Mats (TRMs)

TRMs are designed for applications where established vegetation alone is insufficient to resist ongoing hydraulic or mechanical stresses. The Curlex Enforcer TRM uses a permanent synthetic mesh backbone that remains in place after vegetation establishes, mechanically reinforcing the root system against displacement. TRMs are specified for high-velocity channels, permanent slope faces, and any application where the erosive forces will continue after revegetation.

Choosing Erosion Control Material by Application

Highway Shoulders and Embankments

The classic Curlex application. Highway construction exposes erodible fill slopes and cut slopes that must be revegetated before the next storm season. Curlex I is typically specified for most highway shoulder applications; steeper embankment slopes may require Curlex II or III. The QuickGRASS blanket combines Curlex I excelsior fiber with pre-seeded native grass mixes for even faster establishment.

Construction Site Slopes

Cut and fill slopes on commercial and residential construction sites require temporary erosion control from grading completion until vegetation establishes. Curlex I or II is appropriate for most construction slopes. For sites with SWPPP requirements, excelsior blankets are an approved BMP for slope stabilization.

Stream Banks and Channels

Channel lining applications require material rated for the expected flow velocity. Curlex High Velocity handles higher-flow channel conditions. For permanent stream bank protection, Curlex Enforcer TRM provides long-term reinforcement. In sensitive aquatic environments, Curlex NetFree eliminates the risk of wildlife entanglement in netting.

Restoration Projects

Habitat restoration and trail restoration projects have unique requirements: rapid revegetation, minimal site disturbance, and often restrictions on synthetic materials in sensitive habitats. Curlex NetFree and FiberNet variants address these requirements without sacrificing erosion control performance.

Sediment Control Materials

Erosion control materials protect soil from detachment. Sediment control materials capture soil particles that have already been detached and are moving in runoff. A complete stormwater management plan uses both. For sediment control, see Eastgate Supply's compost filter socks for perimeter control, check dams, and inlet protection applications.

Frequently Asked Questions