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. , was hydroseeding with a copolymer- based applicalion, which was Ihe pri- mary product used in Oakland. Com- bined with a marking dye Ihat gives Ihe hills a Martian-green appearance when freshly applied. the emulsion cures wilhin 36 to 48 hours and dries 10 a moldy green color. which further fades to transparenc)' with time. One brand being used in the La- guna area is Soil MaSler WR. made by Environmental Soil Syslems Inc. In this application. it was mixed with one wood fiber and Iwo paper mulches, water and 13.5 pounds of seed per acre. It is hydraulically applied; thaI is. they spray il where il is needed. The dried material forms a crust. which holds the soil in place, then helps to anchor growing seeds in place. which in lurn will anchor the soil when Ihe material degrades. The cost of this treatment comes in at $2.100 per acre, and the city Ireated about 110 acres with the malerial. The third soil treatment being ap- plied. which also uses hydroseeding techniques. is a new product manufac- lured by Weyerhaeuser Engineered Fiber Products called Soil Guard. Harding explained Ihey use the prod. uct in the "urban interface" areas - those areas that were close to houses and businesses. These areas are where they would usually use jUle neuing. The product is a blend of wood fibers. a natural binding agent, and a mixture of organic and mineral activa- tors. Because it is sprayed onto the af- fected areas, it is more easily used in steep areas than jute netting, which would require workers to scale and cling 10 Ihe hills. Soil Guard is more expensive (about $5.000 per acre) than the polymer-based trealmen!, bUI il supposed to be very effective in Ihe steepest areas. Laguna Beach is treat- ing 65 acres with it. Six contractors were hired 10 treat the fire damaged areas. including Sanders Hydroseeding of Sanla Ana. Calif.. Arroyo Conslruclion of Laguna Niguel. Calif.. Acacia Landscaping, Santa Barbara. Calif., and Nature- Grow of Pacoyma. Calif. The two olhers, Hydro-Plant Inc.. San Marcos, Calif., and Dietz Hydroseeding of Syl- mar, Calif.. were chosen to apply Ihe Soil Guard treatment. 5 & 5 Seeds of Carpinteria, Calif., supplied both the seed and Ihe Soil Guard. As wilh the polymer-based prod. uct. contraclOrs mix it with various seed combinations (12.5 pounds per . . . seed mixtures and applications, said no rappelling was necessary (unless you count hanging onto the hoses for dear life). The contractors either sprayed up or down from Ihe truck on a roadway. or they strelched the heavy hoses up and down Ihe hills. doing a mountain goat act. In some areas, the sites were suffi. ciently remote to require the contrac- tor 10 run tlexible hose from a hydranl to the lruck. more tlexible hose from the truck to PVC pipe that was run down the hill. then a!lach still more hose to Ihat end. where finally il was applied. Total distances sometimes reached 800 to 1.000 feet. High pres- sure made by the specially equipped trucks allowed such great distances. Berlin said timing is critical to the success the applicalions: Ihe Soil Guard producl musl dry. or cure, from 24 to 48 hours. and ideally from 48 to 72 hours. in order 10 sel up correclly. Rain was forecast for the weekend of December 11-12. so work was wrapped by mid-day on Thursday. the 9th to prevent Iheir hard work from sliding down the hill. A question often heard is. why do people live in such a dangerous area? One look at the view, which strelches from Ihe rugged hills and mounlains to Ihe rolling surf of the Pacific Ocean and the waves beyond all Ihe way 10 the horizon, dispels any questions to thai effecl. It's a brealhlakingly beau- tiful area. and people pay dearly 10 enjoy it. The rebuilding has already begun, and wilh these Iypes of soil trealments. those moldy old hills will soon spring back 10 life. too. Contractors (requently used PVC pipe to handle the high pressures necessary (or long-dIstance applications. acre) and waler in a specially equipped truck, Ihen spray it onto Ihe burned areas, either by water cannon or by hose. Its has a slightly greasy feel and a yellowish glow when firsl applied. and it dries to a golden color. The product also forms a crust over the soil - Weyerhaeuser calls it a "'bonded fiber malrix" - which holds itself and (he soil in place. It covers the surface at a 118-inch 10 3116-inch depth. When the rains arrive. Ihe seed thai is mixed in with il will grow. fur- ther anchoring the soil. No fertilizer is included in the product. because its addition would require registralion as such and subject it 10 much greater regulation with regard to its usc. Both products are tOlally non-Ioxic 10 plants or wildlife and allow air to pass through. so they can be sprayed on juSl aboul anYlhing. The contrac- tors took full advantage of this ability. covering everything from the barren soil 10 the charred bushes and trees. At top speed. Hydro-Planl and Dietz can treat about three to four acres per day with Ihe Soil Guard producl. per truck. Each applicalion lcam consists of four trucks operaled by two men per truck. The contrac- lors use Bowie 3.000-gallon Hydro- Mulcher trucks equipped with Moyno rotor.stator pumps to provide extra pressure for Ihe extended hose lengths. Each truck has an agitator in- side Ihe lank. lurning constanlly to keep the suspension consistent and Ihe mixture flowing at a constant rate. Some of the descents were quite precipilous. but Bruce Berlin of 5 & 5 Seeds, who was on site to monitor