In 2017, the Freeway Fire burned 20 acres (8 ha) of brush along the I-210/I-15 interchange in Rancho Cucamonga, California. The California Department of Transportation worked with Pacific Restoration Group, Inc. and Profile Products to restore vegetation on hydrophobic soil with less than 1.5% organic matter and limited rainfall. ProGanics® Biotic Soil Media™ (BSM™), ProPlus® BioPrime®, JumpStart™ and ProMatrix® Engineered Fiber Matrix® (EFM®) were hydraulically applied with two hydroseeders to protect soil and support establishment. After three months and just 1.7 inches (43 mm) of rain, the slope supported a dense cover of grasses and colorful wildflowers.
Key Points
- Fire-damaged site encompassed 20 acres (8 ha) along the I-210/I-15 interchange in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., overseen by the California Department of Transportation with Pacific Restoration Group, Inc. and Stover Seed.
- Site challenges included hydrophobic soil, poor soil with < 1.5% organic matter, limited rainfall and working conditions adjacent to heavy highway traffic.
- Application rates: ProGanics BSM at 4,000 lb/ac (4,480 kg/ha), BioPrime at 80 lb/ac (90 kg/ha), JumpStart at 2.5 gal/ac (23 L/ha) and ProMatrix EFM at 3,000 lb/ac (3,360 kg/ha).
- After only 1.7 inches (43 mm) of rain in three months, follow-up inspections documented a blanket of green vegetation with purple and yellow wildflowers and “staggering” results attributed to JumpStart and ProGanics.
