CoirMat 700- Riverside Park Project - Case Study
In 1912 the city of Boerne bought the land for the Riverside Park for $1.00. In 1962 a massive flood caused extensive damage to the area, and so in 1978 the Second Cibolo Creek dam was built, thus creating the Boerne City Lake in the process. Since then incremental changes and improvements were made to the park, but never a complete overhaul. In 2023 a complete renovation and restructured of the park was started including; riverbank stabilization, a new boardwalk, fishing piers, and sediment removal.
As a major component of this work, Coirmat 700, a heavy-duty open weave erosion control matting produced from coconut coir fibers, was used along the entire riverbank to provide wildlife friendly bank stabilization. This all-natural, completely biodegradable product allowed for multiple species of native plants and grasses to be seeded through and under the matting. The non-buoyant nature of the Coirmat 700 was suitable to allow the installation of the product to extend under the water surface along the blanks. The Coirmat 700 was secured in place with the use of biodegradable wood stakes. The wood stakes ensured the matting stayed securely in place during the vegetation restablishment phase.
In April of 2024, the park improvement project was completed and the park officially reopened to the public. The eco-friendly Coirmat 700 product was deemed a complete success and exceeded expectations on the project. As the years progress the site will reach full vegetated status, and the matting will break-down, leaving the park and its wild inhabitants with a picturesque place to call home.
- Coirmat 700 is wildlife friendly, which was a necessity due to the number of ducks and turtles on the site.
- The strength and non-buoyant properties allowed the product to be submerged under the waterline.
- The extended longevity of the product allows for erosion protection, while the slower to germinate native plants become established.
