Surficial Slope Instability and the Potential Contribution of Erosion Control Practice

ABSTRACT: Civil and Geotechnical Engineering design practice primarily considers general slope stability, with surficial slope stability addressed with less design rigour. Long term surficial slope stability is commonly accomplished with vegetation in the form of grass lined slopes, where detailing of same is accomplished by the slope stability engineer, a vegetation specialist or an erosion control practitioner. This paper examines surficial slope instability where design detailing may be a contributing factor to long term surficial slope instability; where instability is found within days, months, years or even decades. Further, this paper will expand on the potential contribution of the erosion control industry where commonly delivered ‘Best Management Practices’ may contribute to surficial slope instability. The paper discusses the merits of less topsoil and greater diligence in design detailing to cause long-term sustainable root establishment in the civil grade for more robust grass liner protection of engineered infrastructure.