Abstract: Tufted mats for a broad variety of erosion control, turf reinforcement, and earth reinforcement applications. The mats are formed of scrim which is tufted, preferably on conventional carpet machinery, with a number of tufted ends in order to provide high tensile strength, greatly porous and flexible mats which may be easily installed, but which contain a number of interstices for capturing root systems, retaining soil, and controlling the flow of water. The properties of the mats may be easily controlled and optimized by controlling the properties and arrangements of the cross machine ends and machine ends forming the scrim if woven (or corresponding ends, filaments or fibers if knitted or nonwoven), as well as the tufted ends which are tufted into the scrim.