Alabama Soil and Water Blog Spot

  We all enjoy a trip to the beach.  Please stay on the designated pathways and Dune Walkovers.  Newly planted Dune Vegetation can be easily destroyed by foot traffic.    __________________________________________________________________________ Clear Water Alabama 2024 is only about 4 weeks away!!  Registration ends September 20 th !!

  Could someone please explain to me why landscaping is usually the “LAST” item to be complete on a construction job? Exposed soil should be stabilized at EVERY opportunity during a construction project.     ONLY 9 DAYS LEFT FOR EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION FOR CLEAR WATER ALABAMA!!   Perry L Oakes, PE Program Coordinator AL Erosion and Sediment Control Program

  Instead of raised islands in a parking lot, why not use a depressed island (Bioretention Swale or Bioswale).  This allows for some stormwater runoff to infiltrate the soil, decreases the peak runoff, decreases the volume of runoff, and allows for smaller stormwater pipes.  Makes sense to me.   Remember: The Early Bird rates for Clear Water Alabama 2024 end August 15, 2024.   Perry L Oakes, PE Program Coordinator AL Erosion and Sediment Control Program  

  Sediment Basins and Detention/Retention Basins have embankments that are prone to fail when not properly designed and installed.  Failure most times is related to the pipe through the embankment. It could be the wrong pipe, improper pipe placement, poor compaction around the pipe, lack of seepage control, or many other causes. Remember that the ponding of water, no matter how small, is an inherent danger to downstream property and needs to be done right.    Perry L Oakes, PE Program Coordinator AL Erosion and Sediment Control Program

  When two Silt Fences are joined, it should be done right (This is not right).  In this case, the two end posts should have been wrapped at least twice and the stake bundle then driven into the ground.  Also, the installation would have been much better using the off-set installation procedure that is now the preferred method.   Perry L Oakes, PE Program Coordinator AL Erosion and Sediment Control Program

  Give a little thought to your stockpile locations.  Try to keep piles as far as possible from a concentrated flow area. If the soil is not to be used for a while, keep it covered with mulch, vegetation, or plastic.  This pile here has a direct conduit to the stormwater curb inlet.   Perry L Oakes, PE Erosion and Sediment Control Program Coordinator