Desoto Canal, Charlotte County, FL

The Desoto Canal runs through Charlotte County Florida and along the way backs up to the property lines of many community members. Erosion occurring along the slopes of the Desoto Canal had caused the slope to degrade, which threatened the homeowners’ property lines near the canal. Additionally, the canal slope erosion dislocated an abundance of soil, trees, and shrubs creating blockage, thus preventing the canal from flowing properly.

The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) provided a solution to the degrading slopes. In order to restore the canal back to its full capabilities and give the homeowners security of their property lines, the USACE design included re-grade and re-establishment of vegetation on the slopes. To provide a stable slope, Western Excelsior’s PP5-Xtreme(R) High Performance Turf Reinforcement Mats (HPTRM) Western Excelsior’s PP5-Xtreme® and the Gripple Terra-Lock™ System were installed. Specifically, the Terra-Lock™ Ground Anchor (TL-A2) and TL-100 were used to secure the HPTRM to the slope to ensure intimate contact to allow vegetation to grow and stabilize the slope. The HPTRM provided high-strength surface protection and permanent reinforcement of the revegetation root systems. By using the proper installation tools (JackJaw®, GPD, and Drive Rods) the HPTRM was installed efficiently and correctly. Since the installation, the stable slopes have vegetated and will allow the Desoto Canal to function properly and provide protection to the homeowners’ property lines into the future.

Using the Gripple Terra‑Lock™ System made securing the HPTRM a smooth and efficient process. The speed of installation, combined with reliable anchoring, allowed the slopes to stabilize quickly and vegetation to establish—restoring the canal and protecting nearby property lines.