Erosion and Sediment Control Tip # 29


 

Today’s erosion and sediment control tip is provided by Barry Fagan of Volkert, Inc.

 

Delay and Limitation of Soil Disturbance as a Best Management Practice

 

The product of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), which can be used to estimate soil loss from a particular slope, is given in units of tons per acre per year (t/ac/yr.), or mass per area of disturbance per duration of disturbance. To cause the amount of sediment trying to leave a slope to be reduced, one must also reduce the area and/or the duration of disturbance. Both are achievable on most construction projects.

 

One of the most effective practices available for the management of construction stormwater is the protection and retention of established vegetation and soil cover. The next most effective practice may be the effort to return to a state of stabilization as soon as possible.

 

Delaying soil disturbance can be achieved by evaluating the scope and sequence of the work and requiring or choosing delayed clearing and soil disturbance until necessary to carry out the work. This practice can save costs and resources in other areas by minimizing construction stormwater Best Management Practice maintenance and decreasing environmental risks.

 

Limiting soil disturbance involves clearing and disturbing only the areas necessary to accomplish the work.  Unnecessary disturbances increase construction costs, require additional resources to manage, and increase risks to the contractor, to the owner, and to the environment. Limiting soil disturbance also involves the reestablishment of nonerodable surfaces as quickly as possible.

 

Contractors should be encouraged to adopt the goal of “continuous pursuit of permanent stabilization.” In practice, this may look like the contractor not beginning a clearing operation until grading equipment are onsite and ready to go. Once grading starts, it does not stop until final required elevations are reached so that stable surfaces, including vegetation, non-erodible base courses and other hard surfaces can be applied before or as additional acreage is disturbed.

 

 

Barry Fagan, PE/PLS, ENV SP, CPMSM, CPESC, CESSWI

Vice President – Environment & Infrastructure ǀ Volkert, Inc.

 

 

Thanks Barry for this great TIP.

 

Perry L Oakes, PE

Erosion and Sediment Control Program Coordinator

AL Soil and Water Conservation Committee

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