Evaluation of erosion control strategies used for channel protection in the Clear Creek watershed, eastern Sierra Nevada

Severe erosion is occurring at several locations in the Clear Creek watershed along U.S. Highway 50 between Carson City and Lake Tahoe. Erosion has caused problems related to slope stability along roadways and increased maintenance requirements, especially those associated with drainage structures. The physical characteristics of the upper Clear Creek watershed include steep slopes, thin soil sections, and highly weathered bedrock, which allow erosion to proceed almost unchecked. In numerous cases, the erosion has manifested itself in the form of deep gullies and rilled slopes. A combination of laboratory tests and field studies were conducted to assess the performance of several rolled erosion control products (RECPs). These RECPs were found to be effective in reducing erosion over granular bare soil by a magnitude of three. In general, RECPs constructed with components containing a rigid netting appeared to perform slightly better than other more flexible linings.