The study site, located on the western bank of the Kalamazoo River in Kalamazoo, Michigan, is the previous location of sludge ponds for paper waste from the former paper companies operating at this site.

These ponds were decommissioned and backfilled in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Enviornmental Quality and now serve as paved parking areas for tractor truck trailers and open spaces adjacent to the river. Open areas were devoid of vegetated groundcover. Under these harsh conditions, sheet and rill erosion draining to the river was noted as a problem. Click here to see an aerial photo of the area prior to the commencement of the project.

The photo above, taken prior to the start of this project, shows the erosion occurring at the Graphic Packaging property. The Kalamazoo River is located beyond the edge of the barren soils shown in this photo. (Buildings are on the opposite side of the river.)