Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 10/15/2018

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Preventing Entanglement by Erosion Control Blanket Plastic mesh netting is a common component in erosion control blanket. It is utilized to hold loose fibrous materials in place (EG straw) until vegetation is established. Erosion control blanket is being utilized extensively and is effective for reducing soil erosion, benefitting both soil health and water quality. Unfortunately there is a negative aspect of the plastic mesh component: It is increasingly being documented that its interaction with reptiles and amphibians can be fatal (Barton and Kinkead, 2005; Kapfer and Paloski, 2011). Mowing machinery is also susceptible to damage due to the long lasting plastic mesh. Potential Problems: • Plastic netting remains a hazard long after other components have decomposed. • Plastic mesh netting can result in entanglement and death of a variety of small animals. The most vulnerable group of animals are the reptiles and amphibians (snakes, frogs, toads, salamanders, turtles). Ducklings, small mammals, and fish have also been observed entangled in the netting. • Road maintenance machinery can snag the plastic mesh and pull up long lengths into machinery, thus binding up machinery and causing damage and/or loss of time cleaning it out. Suggested Alternatives: # Do not use in known locations of reptiles or amphibians that are listed as Threatened or Endangered species. • Limit use of blanket containing welded plastic mesh to areas away from where reptiles or amphibians are likely (near wetlands, lakes, watercourses, or rock outcrops) or habitat transition zones (prairie — woodland edges, rocky outcrop — woodland edges, steep rocky slopes, etc.) • Select products with biodegradable netting (preferably made from natural fibers, though varieties of biodegradable polyesters also exist on the market). Biodegradable products will degrade under a variety of moisture and light conditions. • DO NOT use products that require UV -light to degrade (also called "photodegradable") as they do not degrade properly when shaded by vegetation. Solution: Most categories of erosion control blanket and sediment control logs are available in natural net options. # Specify `Natural Netting' for rolled erosion control products, per MnDOT Spec 3885. See Table 3885-1. # Specify `Natural Netting' for sediment control logs, per MnDOT Spec 3897 rn- The plastic mesh component of erosion control blanket becomes a net for entrapment. Literature Referenced Barton, C. and K. Kinkead. 2005. Do erosion control and snakes mesh? Soil and Water Conservation Society 60:33A-35A. Kapfer, J.M., and R.A. Paloski. 2011. On the threat to snakes of mesh deployed for erosion control and wildlife exclusion. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 6:1-9. fhttn://www.dnr.state.mn.us/waters/watermgmt section /nwnermits/gn 2004 0001 manual.html) Best Practices for Meeting DNR GP 2004-0001 (version 4, October 2014) Chapter 1, Page 25