Actually this layer of straw mat & blown thatch combination is the middle of the Embankment repair sandwich. From what we've heard there is more topsoil to come that will cover & recontour the outboard slopes, of many dam sections, to have the final outboard dam slope something less steep and easier to maintain. In the end the Embankment will look like this if you did a Before & After cross-section.

I've heard that some embankment sections will get as much as 24" more of topsoil, which made me think about how much dirt might be needed... big numbers usually turn more heads.
For a typical property width of 100' and the EERP Phase 2 western zone embankment sizes... seems 30' width outboard slope seems close to average. That would mean about 222 yards of topsoil to go 24" deep. What get's amazing is when you take that out to the EERP Phase 2 current work, about 32 miles of Embankment Dams between Lockport & Spencerport. Here's a look at the Topsoil Calculator for that equation.
Wow, over 10 million cubic feet of topsoil will be needed, that's about 375,000 cubic yards. Typically, dump trucks haul 10-14 yards per load, so this is about 31,250 dump truck loads for the 32 miles of EERP Phase 2 work underway. And there is still another 10 or so miles to do in Brighton, Pittsford, and Fairport.. so another 10-12 thousand loads there. That may be light as the Embankment Dams east of Rochester are much taller and have longer Outboard Slopes to reshape.

Can't help but notice that these EERP Constructions Companies are also trying to source materials locally when possible & practical. Hopefully this means our local topsoil providers will all be bust come Springtime.
We are not quite mid-point of EERP Phase 2 in Brockport, the safer Embankments are taking shape, and hopefully we start discussions soon with the Arborist who will be working with homeowners who need evergreen barriers constructed. Many homeowners are still hoping to reduce the Erie Canal Trail visibility into our personal lives, for some of us there is zero separation now between Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor patrons and our dinner tables.
Quite a Transformation so far:
