In December, 2011, several members of our Resource Department attended a road maintenance seminar sponsored by the Western Forestry and Conservation Association, Portland, Oregon.

One of WFCA’s member companies demonstrated the use of “wattles” as sediment filter/traps installed in forest road ditches. The wheat straw filled wattles can be used to slow runoff, capture sediment, reduce slope length and control storm-water runoff. They can be used in place of the heavier, more awkward straw bales.

Always looking for better options, the team is utilizing these wattles on Hampton lands as a measure to further protect water quality. The idea was to place the wattle in the ditch as a check dam of sorts. Thus slowing the ditch water velocity so that sediment drops out and clean water exits.

The decision was made to strategically place the wattles in ditches just prior to the ditch water entering a live stream on active haul roads. The wattles which come on 25ft long rolls were cut into 5-6ft sections and zipped tied at the cut ends. The pictures on this page show the installation of 28 of these wattles on the active haul routes.

The Resource Department also intends to install wattles on our properties in Washington.