COCONUT FIBER ROLLS

Adapted from the Massachusetts Low Impact Development Tool Kit

http://www.mapc.org/LID.html

Description:
Coconut ber rolls (also known as coir rolls) are commercially manufactured structures composed of coconut husk fibers bound together with twine woven from coconut or other materials (typically biodegradable). The rolls are most commonly manufactured in 12- to 16-inch diameters and lengths of 20 feet. They are staked in place at the toe of the slope, generally at the stream-forming ow stage (bankfull) and combined with brush layering to provide erosion control with habitat benets. The ber rolls function as breakwaters along the shores of lakes and embayments. In addition to reducing wave energy, this product can help contain substrate and encourage development of wetland communities. They are used to provide channel and shoreline stabilization in areas of low shear stress by acting as a medium for plant propagation. The coconut ber roll begins to biodegrade after several years, by which time the live cuttings planted in the ber rolls have grown an extensive root system which oers further protection against breaking waves and high ows (Sloan 2001).

Applicability:
The use of coconut rolls for streambank stabilization depends on the size of the stream, the slope of the eroding banks, and the expected stream velocity. This practice is eective in protecting slopes from shallow slides while trapping sediment that encourages plant growth within the ber roll. It is also eective in lake areas where the water level uctuates, because it is able to protect the shoreline and encourage new vegetation. Natural ber rolls can also be used as toe protection in ponds and lakes where ow velocities are low and moderate toe stabilization is required.

Eectiveness:
Coconut logs can be a very eective method to repair streambank erosion on small streams with gentle, unwooded slopes. They provide a natural, unobtrusive appearance. Design Considerations
Not applicable in areas of severe scour. There must be sucient sunlight available for colonizing plant growth. Best results have been obtained in low-order streams, with graded or ungraded bank slopes of 3:1 or 4:1 (horizontal: vertical) and stream velocities from 2.5 to 7 cubic ft/s. Not appropriate for sites with high velocity ows or large ice build up. Best results are achieved when native plant species are planted in the ber rolls. Must be installed at the proper elevation to mitigate bankfull ow impacts.

Coconut Fiber Rolls pg.1 Massachusetts Nonpoint Source Pollution Management

Costs:
Prefabricated materials can be expensive and must be ordered well in advance. Coconut logs cost about $11/linear foot for materials; a four-person crew can plant from 200 to 300 linear feet per day. (Note: Cost can increase by an additional $10/linear foot if extensive bank re-grading is needed). Manufacturers estimate the product has an eective life of 6 to 10 years. With installation costs, the approximate cost for the installation of coconut rolls is $68 per running foot (installed) (MDE 2000). (Note: The above estimates have been adjusted to 2005 U.S. dollars and do not include costs associated with project permitting.) For the Oak Bottom Shoreline Erosion Control Project (CA), 1,000 feet of shoreline were stabilized by California Conservation Corps employees. The project cost $60,000 (materials: $25,000, consulting/labor: $35,000), including some erosion control work and trail stabilization (Sloan 2001).

Operation and Maintenance:

Coconut rolls decompose over a 3- to 6-year period, leaving roots of colonizing vegetation to secure the toe of the streambank (Schueler). Plantings should be maintained during the rst few months.

References
Website of British Flora. British Flora. Accessed 7/19/02. http://www.britishora.co.uk Coconut Rolls as a Technique for Natural Streambank Stabilization Technical Note #44. Watershed Protection Techniques.1 (4):176-178. MDE. 2000. Marylands Waterway Construction Guidelines. The Maryland Department of the Environment Water Management Administration, http://www.mde.state.md.us/wetlands/guide.html Schueler, T. Stormwater Managers Resource Center. Center for Watershed Protection, Inc., Accessed 3/7/2002. http://www.stormwatercenter.net Sloan, R. March/April 2001. Biotech Tip: Coir Rolls With Brush Layering for Successful Streambank and Shoreline Stabilization. Erosion Control Magazine. http://www.forester.net/ec_0103_biotech.html Streambank and Shoreline Protection Manual. Lake County Stormwater Management Commission, Lake County Planning, Building and Development Department, U.S.D.A. - Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2002. http://www.usace.army.mil/

RECOMMENDED FACT SHEETS AND RESOURCES

FISRWG. 1998. Stream Corridor Restoration: Principles, Processes, and Practices. Federal Interagency Stream Restoration Working Group, http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/stream_restoration/ USEPA. Restoration Bi-Weekly Update. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water. Accessed 7/03/02. http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/restore/update/

Coconut Fiber Rolls pg.2 Massachusetts Nonpoint Source Pollution Management