The Albany County Soil and Water Conservation District has begun a countywide erosion-control program using its new hydroseeder. In 2016, conservation district staff completed several successful projects in partnership with municipal highway departments.

A slurry of wood or paper mulch, grass seed, and water is sprayed from a tank onto bare soil. These ingredients help promote quick germination and inhibit erosion, according to a release from the conservation district; hydroseeding is quicker than the more traditional methods of seeding and it can cover a large area in a short period of time.

This program is to control soil erosion from road banks and ditches in Albany County.  Hydroseeding will help reduce the amount of sediment, nutrients, and metals entering the water of Albany County.

The district will be able to assist the towns, villages, cities, and county highway departments when road projects are completed.  The intent is to make hydroseeding a standard operating procedure in a road ditch or road reconstruction and paving operation to stabilize the banks and ditches.

The hydroseeder was purchased with with money from the Environmental Protection Fund as administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

For more information, call (518) 765-7923, email , or visit www.albanycounty.com/swcd