Erosion Control

The absence of or poorly installed erosion control can result in heavy fines from government agencies. In addition to potential fines you can incur costly clean up fees. Don't let your job sites look like this. Use Gordon Energy for all your Erosion Control Needs.

Silt Fence
Silt Fence is by far the most commonly accepted and used form of erosion control in Kansas City. The purpose of silt fence is to prevent the flow of sediment from a construction site and entering natural drainage ways or storm drainage systems. By slowing the runoff the sediments will settle before they leave the construction site. The reason silt fence is used is due to that no one has ever found a cheaper way to do it. As long as you can maintain a silt fence, clean up the sediment once it reaches 2/3 the way up the fabric, and keep others from damaging it, it should last the life of most construction projects. Gordon Energy has installed millions of feet of silt fence in the Kansas City area. We know all of the city codes and do only what is necessary to make your job pass. Gordon Energy has its own custom made SF that is a very high quality product. The fabric is a heavy weight 90 gram material so it will resist tearing from water and wind. Our wood stakes are heavy duty 2”x2” nominal thickness made only of hardwoods. We always trench the silt fence 6” in the ground. We have different pricing structures based on the size of the job which often affects our method of install. We refer to small lots jobs as “Residential Silt Fence”. For longer runs of silt fence that might include an entire field or subdivision we refer to those as “Developmental Silt Fence”. On developmental jobs we sometimes use our Tommy Machine to quickly slice the silt fence in the ground. We also carry wire backed silt fence for those jobs where an engineer might spec it or if high flow rates are expected. Erosion Matting or Blankets
Erosion Control Blankets or Matting are used to quickly vegetate an area and at the same time stabilize the soil. Usually erosion control matting is installed along with grass seed and fertilizer to promote this vegetation. Erosion blankets generally have 3 main categories based on the product lifespan, stabilization slope & expected water velocity. Temporary, Long Term and Permanent or Turf Reinforcement Mats (TRM’s). There are hundreds of different kinds of erosion control blankets. Many are considered equivalents and with your or the engineers approval can be substituted. Using equivalents is good a way to save considerable money, but still getting the same erosion control specs. We are familiar with all of the matting equivalent products. In Kansas City a good general purpose, low slope, low velocity & temporary matting is our Double Straw Blanket. This is a very economical blanket, but very effective at promoting quick vegetation. We have too many blankets available to name, but they include manufacturers such as US Erosion, North American Green, Propex, American Excelsior, Colbond, Greenfix, Tenax & Western Excelsior.



Street Cleaning
As part of our normal silt fence installation we will of course clean up any mud or dirt mess that we make. Per your request we will also clean mud & dirt that has been tracked in the roadways by other sub-contractors or visitors. For more extensive street cleaning jobs we also have angle brooms and street sweepers available.

Storm Inlet Protection
Protection of storm water inlets is closely monitored by the EPA. Failure to protect these will quickly get you a warning or fine by the EPA. Our most popular product for protecting storm sewers is our Heavy Weight Mulch Bag. This is a product we helped design and create. It is a heavy duty bag filled with wood mulch.



Straw Wattles
Straw wattles are another erosion control product that may be a good choice for certain applications. Our wattles contain weed free wheat, wrapped in a polypropylene strand netting mesh and is tied on both ends. They are then staked with 1”x1”x18” wood stakes at approximately 4 feet on center. Their lower profile allows them to be less susceptible to wind damage & traffic damage. This lower profile also does not restrict visibility for drivers as much as silt fence. Wattles are often used near streets and in medians, but more builders have been using them instead of silt fence on residential lots. They do not hold back as much sediment as a silt fence, but are effective for minor slopes. The main benefit behind straw wattles is that they can be broken up and spread out on the ground when their job is done. Silt fence has to be picked up and thrown away.



Professional Erosion Control Services
We have certified inspectors and Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) preparers. These employees have the knowledge and experience to help you prepare an effective erosion control plan. We are always aware of the costs involved and will try to minimize these. We also know the top issues and key areas of concerns that city inspectors look for.

Ditch Checks, Rock Checks & Triangular Silt Dykes
Rock checks or Dam checks are installed in areas where there is the potential for very high water flow rates and the threat of severe erosion. A very large and heavy rock is used to build these checks. They are often installed in multiple tiers to slow down the flow of water. We do still Offer hay bales as ditch checks, but this practice is quickly losing popularity. The EPA and other Erosion control organizations have been discouraging or banning the use of hay bales for most erosion control Best Management Practice (BMPs) as they can break apart and clog up proper water flow. Rock checks, triangular silt dykes or even well positioned and installed silt fence are generally better erosion control methods for the heavy flow rates of ditches. Silt Dykes are a soft foam filled product with a polypropylene wrapped exterior.