29 October 2009 – Maccaferri, a leading provider of Civil Engineering and Environmental solutions for over 130 years, has developed the MacDam™ to control ash and fine sediment runoff on burned or barren slopes. Fire is an ever present force in forests and rangeland and is an important natural process in the renewal of ecosystems. However, as human populations expand, people and their homes, businesses and public infrastructure are not only threatened by the incidence of natural and man-induced wildfires, but ultimately areas affected by fire can succumb to a secondary disaster resulting from the erosion of barren soils.
Mudslides, ash and debris flows and landslides commonly occur along the urban interface when heavy rains fall on burned ground devoid of vegetation. Pre-existing rills and gullies can rapidly conduct soil and ash down slope, accelerating erosion and increasing the impact of the wildfire on downstream resources such as homes and infrastructure.
The MacDam™ is a cost-effective, functional equivalent to check structures constructed of straw bales or sand bags with some very distinct advantages when installed in gullies or drainage channels following fires. MacDam™ advantages include: lower installation costs, high level of effectiveness, ease of installation, longevity, operation and maintenance.
ABOUT MACCAFERRI INC.
Maccaferri, Inc. is a world leader in engineered environmental solutions with expertise in application sectors including: erosion control, rockfall protection, soil stabilization, slope reinforcement and revetment, retaining structures, coastal protection, fibers for concrete reinforcement and geosynthetics for drainage, filtration and separation. Based in Williamsport, MD, Maccaferri Inc. has manufacturing facilities in Maryland, California and Mexico. Maccaferri, Inc. is a subsidiary of Officine Maccaferri, headquartered in Bologna, Italy, with operations in nearly 100 countries worldwide. For 130 years, Maccaferri has been researching, designing and developing sophisticated high quality products for solving problems related to the environment we live in.
