In the early days, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, or simply known as the C&O Canal, was the life line for the communities and businesses along the Potomac River. Completed in 1850 at a cost of $14 million, the canal is almost 185 miles long and stretches from Cumberland, Maryland to Georgetown near Washington, D.C. Boats loaded with coal, lumber, grain and agricultural products used the 6 foot deep canal to transport goods to market.
Today, the C&O Canal is a National Park with millions of people each year visiting the 12,000 acres surrounding the Canal. The natural beauty along the Canal’s towpath is perfect for hiking and biking or other recreational activities. A top priority of the National Park Service is protecting and preserving the Canal’s natural surroundings for future generations.
A FAILING SLOPE
A slope along the towpath began to fail as a result of a drain pipe breaking. The break in the drain pipe allowed water to saturate the already naturally unstable slope causing it to slip. As the slope eroded away, a 48" high pressure water line was uncovered and partially exposed. This water line is a main source of water for Arlington County, Virginia. and needed to be protected from being damaged. A break in this line would leave thousands of people without water.
REPAIR, PROTECTION, & SPEED
The increasing exposure of the vital water line pressed the urgency of repairing the slope. Additionally, because of the slope’s location in a scenic National Park, the solution had to blend perfectly into the surrounding environment. Maccaferri‘s Green Terramesh® was selected because it could secure and stabilize the slope and be vegetated to blend into the surrounding area. Fast construction was also a contributing factor given the high importance of the water line.
With construction lasting only two months, 396 square feet of Green Terramesh® was used to rebuild the failed slope and protect the water line. The new slope was completed in the fall of 2007 and hydroseeded in the early spring of 2008. Vegetation growth has been outstanding and the new slope blends seamlessly into the Canal’s surrounding environment.
Pino Cignarella is a Southeastern United States regional manager for Maccaferri. He can be reached at +1 305 569 9890, fax +1 305 569 9124, email pcignarella@maccaferri-usa.com, www.maccaferri-usa.com. A profile of Maccaferri’s work and product & service offerings is available here.
