At the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, a massive erosion control and vegetation establishment effort transformed mountainous terrain into stable, grassed slopes for world-class competition. Led by ECTM Ltd with Profile Products support, the team faced rocky, compacted soils, underground water, steep alpine gradients, and tight schedules that demanded year-round seeding in challenging weather. A tailored solution combined JumpStart™ 5 and BioPrime® soil amendments with Flexterra® High Performance-Flexible Growth Medium® (HP-FGM®) and the GreenArmor® System. Covering 82 acres at 4,000 pounds per acre with Flexterra HP-FGM, the project delivered a multi-level soil stabilization system ready for the Games.
Key Points
- Rocky, compacted soils with little organic value, low Cation Exchange Capacity, underground water breaching cut slopes, and steep gradients created high erosion risks and poor conditions for plant establishment.
- Soil was amended at 40 pounds per acre (44.8 kg/ha) with biostimulants JumpStart 5 and BioPrime, part of ProPlus® Prescriptive Agronomic Formulations, to address low organic matter and encourage germination.
- Flexterra HP-FGM, the highest performing hydraulic mulch product used, was applied at 4,000 pounds per acre (4,480 kg/ha) across 82 acres to meet high erosion potential, slope length and gradient, and functional longevity needs.
- In concentrated flow areas and extreme or unstable slopes, the GreenArmor System—often combined with rockfall protection—provided a cost-effective, multi-level soil stabilization system for high-discharge waterways and steep slopes.
