When Should Rip Rap Be Used for Erosion Control and Slope Stabilization?
Anyone who has dealt with a muddy slope after a storm knows how quickly water can change a piece of land. One day the ground looks normal. After a few days of heavy rain, there is a groove running down the slope and a pile of soil sitting somewhere it should not be. That is where rip rap can come in handy. These larger rocks can be placed over areas that take a lot of water movement, giving the soil some protection instead of leaving it completely exposed. The trick is knowing where it actually makes sense to use it. Look at What the Water Is Doing Before choosing any rock, we should pay attention to the water. Where does it come from? Where does it go? Does it rush down the slope, collect in one area, or come out of a drainage pipe? Those details tell us quite a bit. A small amount of runoff across firm ground is very different from water that repeatedly cuts through loose soil. In the second situation, the ground may keep washing away every time there is a decent storm...