EPISODE LISTINGS
Episode 1: Hydromulching
In the premier episode of Dirt Time, John gives us the lowdown on Hydromulching. Site prep, mixture, application and review are all covered.Learn the difference between BFM and MBFM, Hydromulch and Hydrostraw! It’s all here in our series premier!
Episode 2: Erosion Control Blankets
Our second episode is all about RECPs! Not only do we tell you what that stands for*, but we go through all the different types of RECPs and how to install them both in slope and channel situations. *Okay, we’ll tell you now: Rolled Erosion Control Products
Episode 3: Sediment Ponds
Every major site needs a sediment pond. But how big? Should there be baffles? And if so, how many? Do I need to skim? In this episode John takes out the murkiness surrounding sediment ponds – Covering it all from Inlet to Outlet. Watch us dig the pond, set up the baffles, the weir crests, the skimmer and the outlet drain. All while letting you know WHY we’re doing it. And after its all done, watch John line up the water trucks for a storm event test, letting you see a Sediment Pond in action!
Episode 4: Silt Fence
Ahh, That ubiquitous Silt Fence – It’s everywhere. Yet, you’ll be hard pressed to find a decent stretch of fence that is properly installed. Silt Fence is most likely the most misused and mis-installed BMP on the planet. Our Silt Fence episode is here to help – covering placement, silt fence types, and the differentproperinstallation techniques (including the use of theTommyMachine). Once we have everything in the ground, we turn on the water truck and let it rain! You get to see the silt fence working as it should AND as it shouldn’t*.
*All improper installations on the show are intentional & meant for demonstration purposes…promise.
Episode 5: Fiber Rolls (aka Wattles)
This Episode boasts what is probably the coolest machine to make it on to Dirt Time to date. The folks from Kristar bring on theirWattlematicmachine – a portable Wattle maker capable of making continuous Fiber Rolls on site! Really neat stuff. Once we get our wattles made, it’s on to the business of learning how (and when & why) to use and install Fiber Rolls. Center Punch, Rope & Stake, Mid Slope Breakup and all other things wattle are in our Fiber Roll episode. As a special treat, we push theWattlematicto the max, making the world’s largest* wattle! How long? …you’ll have to watch to find out. *Not actually verified, but we like to think its the biggest.
Episode 6: Polymers
For this episode, we call in a Polymer expert: Derek Hoffman, from Earth and Road. John & Derek go over the polymer basics – their different uses, applications, and benefits. We learn all about how Polymers work from on a microscopic level to how they act on a rain drenched slope. Like always, once our installations are down, we bring out the water truck and make it rain! You’ll be amazed at the difference polymers make, and at the difference polymer application method makes.
Episodes 7, 8 and 9: The Hinton Project: Streambank Stabilization in the Rocky Mountains
This time, the Dirt Time crew find themselves deep in Canadian Rockies, trying to save a highway from the undercutting of the Pembina river. Over the course of three episodes, we cover a barrage of biotechnical and bioengineering techniques meant to stabilize streambanks.
With a big crew and even bigger machines at our disposal, we cover everything you need to know about…Rock Vanes, LPSTPs, Brush Layering, Live Siltation, Vegetated RipRap, Compost Berms, Soil Wraps, Brush Mattresses, Compost Blankets & Socks, Turbidity Monitoring, and much much more!
This is a must-have tutorial for anyone considering Streambank stabilization.
PLUS: Don’t miss season 2, where we return to the Pembina river, in order to follow up on the techniques installed in these episodes ONE YEAR LATER! See what worked and what didn’t.
Episode 10, 11 and 12: Riverbank / Lakeshore Erosion in Alaska!
We kick off Season 2 in true Dirt Time style! John and the crew head up to Fairbanks Alaska to tame the erosive forces of the mighty Chena River. Poor Jeff Anderson’s home is losing a foot a year to the wave splash erosion caused by the HUGE paddlewheel boats that pass 6 times a day. Lucky for him, Dirt Time is on the scene.
Over the course of 3 episodes, John talks about and demonstrates a variety of Riverbank & Lakeshore protection techniques, including: Coir Rolls & Blocks, (modified) Vegetated RipRap, Vegetated Sandbags, Large Woody Debris and more.
The best part is, Dirt Time does not leave you hanging. Our crews were in Alaska 4 months later to catch the progress of our various techniques. So you can see what worked and what didn’t!
If you have any problems with Riverbank, Streambank or Lakeshore erosion, this is a must watch!
Episodes 13, 14 & 15:
Streambank Stabilization in the Rocky Mountains – YEAR TWO
Dirt Time heads back to the Rockies to save Highway 734 from being eroded by the Pembina River. This DVD is a continuation of the Hinton project started one year prior and documented in Season One, DVD Three. This time around we introduce some new streambank stabilization techniques, plus John implements multiple innovative Landslide Repair tools. On this disc we cover…
Live Pole Drains, Rock Vanes, Boulder Clusters, Compost Blankets & Berms, Modified Brush Layers, Live Staking, Contoured Fascines and more!
PLUS: We go back to the installations from our 1st year (season 1, disc 3) ONE YEAR LATER! You get to see what worked and what didn’t!
SEE pictures from our Hinton Episodes here
Episode 16: Ditch Checks
In our Ditch Check episode, you’ll learn the installation info and theory behind numerous Ditch Check and Dam techniques. This episode features:
The Enviroberm, Gravel Bag Check Dams, Triangular Silt Dikes, Fiber Roll Checks, Traditional Gravel Checkdams, and more!
Episode 17: Energy Dissipators
Energy Dissipators are much more than just rocks piled underneath a culvert! In this episode we explain the why, the what and the how of Energy Dissipation. Join us as host John McCullah shows how to properly grade and install a culvert and the necessary outlet protection.
Not only will we cover the traditional rock energy dissipators, we’ll also introduce you to the very cool, very new, Scourstop system!
Episode 18: Turf Reinforcement Mats in a Channel
Everything you’ll need to know when protecting your channels with a TRM. Material choice, Anchor Trenches, Stapling choice and patterns, rollout and placement theory…it’s all here.
Watch as we install poly. TRMs, Coconut composites, Enkamat and Profile’s excellent Green Armor System.
Episode 19: Extreme Slope Stabilization
In this episode, Dirt Time host John McCullah & crew find themselves hanging 100 feet in the air at the BridgeBay Marina.
Their job is to stabilize a failing, near-vertical slope that threatens the resort’s parking lot. Making matters worse is the fact that the slope is made of exceptionally erode-able decomposed granite. Not the easiest of situations.
You’ll watch as John uses (& explains) ‘Slope Nailing’, Flexible Growth Medium, Rock Toes and Hydromulch spraying and mixing. All done in an effort to stop the slope from breaking off onto the hoods of the resort’s customers.
Episode 20: Articulated Concrete Blocks
For our 20th episode, the Dirt Time crew takes on an Articulated Concrete Block installation as part of a watershed resoration project. Articulated Concrete Blocks (ACBs) can be used in many different applications, but in this project, the ACBs were a perfect fit for constructing a Four-Season Low Water Crossing.
Armed with his trusty Track Hoe and Spreader Bar, John McCullah shows you how to properly prepare, grade and install cabled ACB Mats.
Episode 21,22,23: The Willow Creek Project
What is the Willow Creek Project?
Over a 3 month period last year, John McCullah worked with Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation to save a massively failing slope that threatened to crater Highway # 2 – a very important highway in South Alberta. It was a huge undertaking and our cameras were there for the whole process.
The main problem was the erosive flows from the rather deceptive Willow Creek (it looks more picturesque than viciously erosive).These currents were eating at the toe of the slope, causing some really fascinating block failures. In addition there was a large gully on site also plagued with problems.
To save this site, John and crew reached deep his erosion and sediment control bag of tricks. Over the course of this episode, you’ll see the following techniques, explained, installed and reviewed: Rock Vanes, Longitudinal Peak Stone Toe Protection, Fiber Roll Installation & Theory, Scourstop Energy Dissipators, Hydromuclhing with FGMs, Soil Nailing, Live Siltation, Soil Flapping, Trackwalking & more!
It’s the closet you can get to on site training without actually being there.
Episode 24: Hydromulching 2
This is our closet look at Hydromulch yet! This episode covers and improves upon all aspects of Hydromulch that were covered in our initial Hydromulch DVD done a few years ago. If you need to learn about Hydromulch, than this is your DVD!
In this DVD, we talk about: Hydromulch Types, Spraying Techniques, Hydromulch Theory, Selection Considerations, Mixing Procedures, Spraying Machine Overview, and much more.
We are so happy to be able to revisit this extremely popular and in demand topic.
Episode 25:
The Big Cover Up: Large Area Erosion Protection Techniques
How do you button up a large site, in a small amount of time? What’s the difference between straw blankets & Blown Straw? Are compost blankets a good idea? When should I use what?
These are just some of the questions that led to filming this episode of Dirt Time. In the Big Cover Up, we look at the options for large open area erosion control.
In this DVD, we cover the Big Area theory, installation and finer points of: Hydromulching, Straw Blowing, Erosion Control Blankets and Compost Blankets