What are Straw Wattles?

Straw Wattles also known as Stenlogs are a new comer to the sediment control scene. They are simply a polypropylene sock filled with various fibres (most commonly straw, but also wood, compost, rock and plastic), which is staked or pinned to the ground to create a speed bump for sediment laden water leaving a construction site. The theory is that construction site run-off will come into contact with a straw wattle, momentarily have to slow down to flow over it, and thus drop some of its sediment load. The nice thing about the straw filled straw wattles is that they are 100% biodegradable and photodegradable and once your site is seeded and mulched can simply be left in place to break down. Again as with all other sediment control devices, maintenance is key, and they should be inspected after every rain even, and sediment removed when it reached 1/3 the height of the straw wattle.

When would you use a straw wattle?

Straw Wattles should be used to control perimeter sediment control on your construction site. They also can be utilized as a slope interrupter, or to break up the length of a slope you are trying to vegetate, thus slowing run-off and reducing your erosion potential. Straw Wattles can also be used in combination with bioengineering practices, such as willow staking, to provide pockets to place topsoil for planting.