Impacts of Compost Blankets on Erosion Control, Revegetation, and Water Quality at Highway Construction Sites in Iowa

PREFACE This report summarizes the results of a three-year study sponsored by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the Iowa Department of Transportation. The primary objectives of the study were to evaluate the effectiveness of using composted organics on highway construction sites to control storm water runoff and erosion, and to improve the growth of roadside vegetation. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors thank Jeff Geerts (Iowa Department of Natural Resources), and Mark Masteller and Ole Skaar (Iowa Department of Transportation) for their valuable consultation and assistance on this project. Thanks also to the Metro Waste Authority of Des Moines, Bluestem Solid Waste Agency (Linn County/Cedar Rapids), and the Davenport Compost Facility for supplying compost for the project. A special thanks also to Dr. John Laflen, former director of the USDA National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory, who has provided a wealth of invaluable information and ad vice throughout the project. Thank also to the eight undergraduate interns (who constructed the test plots and helped to collect, prepare, and analyze several thousand water quality, erosion, and vegetation samples during the course of this project. Disclaimer This final report was prepared with the support of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Grant Number 00-G550-02-TCG. However, any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of IDNR.