The Hydraulics and Erosion Control Laboratory, operated by the Texas Transportation Institute was established in the late 1980's in order to fulfill the requirements of Specification Item 169 and Item 164 which require the department to maintain an Approved Product List for "soil retention blankets" and for "cellulose fiber mulches". Texas is currently funding 100% of the annual $350,000 operational budget for the facility. In an effort to reduce the state costs, Texas wishes to establish a pooled fund study. Funds obligated for this pooled fund effort will be used for expenses related to the tasks necessary to continue to operate the facility and for reimbursing travel expenses for attending technical committee meetings.

The Hydraulics and Erosion Control Laboratory was recently modified. It went from an outdoor testing facility to an indoor testing facility. Now up-to-date, the facility will begin testing erosion control products in March 2002. Interested states are encouraged to provide funding for this study. Participating states will also be granted access to the facility. For more information, please see the following web site: www.dot.state.tx.us/insdtdot/orgchart/cmd/erosion/contents.htm