how effective are geotextiles at preventing erosion
Geotextiles are very effective at preventing erosion when properly installed. Here are some of the key ways they help reduce erosion:
- Filtration – Geotextiles allow water to pass through while filtering out fine soil particles. This prevents soil loss that leads to erosion.
- Separation – They separate dissimilar materials like soil and stone, preventing mixing that can weaken structural integrity and lead to washouts.
- Reinforcement – Some geotextiles have tensile strength to reinforce soil structures against shear forces from water runoff that cause erosion.
- Infiltration – Their porosity aids infiltration of water into soil rather than running off surfaces in concentrated flows that cause erosion.
- Vegetation growth – Many geotextiles allow grass/plants to take root through them, holding soil in place with roots against erosion forces.
- Securement – Stapling, trenching or overlaying edges ensures geotextiles stay firmly in place rather than shifting during rain/runoff.
Properly selected and installed geotextiles can substantially reduce erosion rates of exposed soils by over 90% compared to unprotected surfaces. Long-term stabilization also depends on follow-up revegetation or armoring.
