Landscape Restoration GroCo compost was used in an innovative project in the Mountains to Sound Greenway to rehabilitate abandoned logging roads and help stabilize mountain slopes by enhancing the growth of native vegetation.
The restored roadway, visible as a green "x" in the lower left of this picture, contrasts with an un-restored road on the slope above. The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust (external link) is a public-private partnership of citizens, private landowners, public agencies and local governments working together to protect and enhance the green landscapes along Interstate 90, connecting Puget Sound with the Cascade Mountains. The Compost Regreening Program involved local and international youth groups and other volunteers working to revegetate harvested mountain slopes and unsightly, erosion-prone road scars. Heavy equipment was used to restore the natural slopes and drainages. Volunteers then blended biosolids compost into the soil surface.
Log terraces commonly used in hillslope restoration. |
A lush grass coat on a newy restored plot. | Above is an example of log terraces used to hold the recontoured slope in place. Grass seed is mixed into the compost and straw may be layered on top to help stabilize soils. Grass establishes quickly on biosolids amended soils, preventing erosion by rain and snow during the following months. Volunteers returned the next season to plant tree seedlings. 
Road cuts can recover very quickly after biosolids amendment and application of grass seed.
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