Category: Erosion Control

Posted on

Installing a cul-de-sac for Douglas County in Larkspur, CO

Dirt Dogs Excavating recently finished installing a brand new cul-de-sac in Larkspur, Colorado in the beautiful Perry Park neighborhood. Douglas County required the old dead end road be rebuilt to provide emergency vehicles (like fire trucks) with the ability to easily turn around.

Once Dirt Dogs was provided with the engineering drawings and specifications we went to work moving earth and doing the necessary excavation work. In some spots we had to move over 18 feet of dirt.

This cul-de-sac has a 90 foot radius and took about a month of work to do. (There was another month taken up by the surveyors and engineers who had to haggle over their drawings.)

Outside of the engineering plans and surveying we handled the whole project: removing trees and vegetation, building the cul-de-sac to the exact elevation needed, excavating for drainage, installing erosion control and seeding plus the final step which was installing the asphalt road.

If your Colorado cul-de-sac or driveway is in need of repairs, fixes or an upgrade we invite you to give Dirt Dogs Excavating a call! Or email us through our Quote form.

Posted on

Erosion Control for Horse Arena in Elizabeth, CO

Erosion control matting is a very important step when we excavate and install a new horse arena. We recently installed some erosion control matting at a new horse arena in Elizabeth, CO which you can see in a couple of these photos.

At Dirt Dogs Excavating we specialize in  being perfectionists in erosion control. We don’t just toss out straw and hope it will work – nope – we lay down erosion control matts precisely and carefully to ensure that the rain and runoff from your newly installed horse arena (or landscaping project) will be handled in the best way possible. As you can see in these photos we excavated and contoured the landscape so water would smoothly drain away from the horse arena. (We also put in the access road.) From these photos you can see how the water will drain off gradually and flow down into the valley below.

Erosion matting, also known as erosion control blankets or erosion control mats, are materials used to prevent soil erosion and promote vegetation growth on slopes, embankments, and other areas prone to erosion.

Things we do when we apply  erosion control matting:

  1. Prepare the Site: Clear the area of any debris, rocks, or other obstructions. Grade the surface to ensure proper drainage and smooth out any rough areas.
  2. Select the Right Matting: Choose erosion matting appropriate for your site conditions, such as slope gradient, soil type, and climate. There are different types of erosion matting available, including straw, coconut fiber, synthetic, or biodegradable materials.
  3. Anchor the Matting: Begin by anchoring the erosion matting at the top of the slope or embankment. Use stakes, staples, or other anchoring devices to secure the matting in place. Ensure that the anchoring devices penetrate the soil securely to prevent the matting from shifting or being washed away.
  4. Overlap and Secure Joints: If using multiple rolls of erosion matting, overlap the edges of adjacent rolls to ensure continuous coverage. Secure the overlapping edges with staples or other fasteners to prevent gaps where soil erosion could occur.
  5. Install Additional Stabilization: Depending on the slope gradient and erosion risk, you may need to install additional stabilization measures such as erosion control netting, wire mesh, or rock riprap along with the erosion matting to provide extra support and protection.
  6. Plant Vegetation: If the erosion matting allows for vegetation growth, sow seeds or plant vegetation through the matting according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Ensure proper soil preparation and irrigation to promote healthy plant growth.
  7. Maintenance: If needed, we can come back and inspect the erosion matting for any signs of damage or displacement. Replace any damaged sections and re-anchor loose areas as needed. Monitor vegetation growth and provide additional maintenance such as watering, fertilizing, or weed control as necessary to ensure successful erosion control.

Of course, if you’re need a new horse arena, landscaping excavation or erosion control matting … give Dirt Dogs a call or contact us through our quote form!

Phone: (303) 435-4774

Posted on

Erosion Control in Parker, Colorado

The summer of 2023 brought in record rains throughout the front range of Colorado. The good news is there was no drought. The bad news was many roads and buildings got washed out, damaged and flooded. Dirt Dogs Excavation recently came to the rescue of a local business in Parker, Colorado by installing a total flood control system to included: ditch excavation, concrete work, granite rip rap, seeding and matting.

The drama started when a commercial building (Christian Brothers Automotive) in Parker, Colorado got flooded by rain coming down an embankment and overflowing a small ditch that was unable to handle the runoff. That runoff was entered the bay doors causing serious damage.

A local engineering company came up with the calculations and drawings of how the project needed to be built. Dirt Dogs brought those drawings to life!

First, we excavated a 1×1 foot ditch and converted it into a 3×3 foot ditch while making room for concrete work that would divert water runoff down our ditch which was lined with granite riprap. The Concrete work was about 60ft long by 3ft tall. It included  new trough which would funnel water through a concrete trough and safely move it away from the building on into a ditch lined with rip rap. The rip rap runoff area was about 100ft log and dumps into a drainage area capable of handling the excess water. Following the ditch excavation, concrete work and installation of the rip rap we drill seeded the area and covered the seed with erosion control matting.

We drill seeded all the Disturbed areas and then covered with the matting.  Only the good Lord knows when we’ll see another super-rainy summer again but when it comes – they’ll be safe from those floods thanks to the Dirt Dogs crew!

If you need help with your culvert or ditch or driveway or road grading or anything else that need earth moving experts. We invite you to contact us!