Today’s Erosion and Sediment Control Tip: #18

 


This TIP is for the Planners and Designers of new developments.

When planning and designing, are you making the topography of the site “fit” your design, or are you making your design “fit” the topography.  I hope the latter is what you are doing; however, to make a design fit the topography of the site it requires more out of the box and creative thinking.  This type planning and design allows for more existing vegetation and trees to be preserved and incorporated into the design, creates a cooler environment, has less runoff, and should significantly reduce the excavation and earthfill quantities for the project.  When vegetation and trees are preserved there is less bare ground and the erosion and sediment production are reduced for the site.  Preservation of mature trees just “makes sense” to me.  It may take a tree 50 or 100 years to reach it’s majestic size that is aesthetically pleasing and provides significant stormwater reduction. Why dot the project with whips of trees that may never reach their potential during the life of the development? So, if a site has good ground cover and mature trees, do you really need to nuke the site of all vegetation, or incorporate what mother nature has created into your project?

Perry L. Oakes, PE
Erosion & Sediment Control Program Coordinator

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