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

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Today’s Erosion and Sediment Control Tip: #16

Image
  Today’s Erosion and Sediment Control Tip Sediment Basins require a device to dewater from the surface of the basin to remove the cleanest (less turbid) water.  This is often accomplished with a skimming device that is designed to remove the stored construction runoff over a period of 2 to 5 days.  It is important that the skimmer be installed and maintained properly. Skimmers must have a flexible connection to the rigid pipe or riser system that goes through the dam.  It should easily operate at all design elevations.  When placed on a principal spillway riser, the pipe from the skimmer to the flexible connection should be about 1.5 x the height of the riser structure. The flexible pipe outlet at the rigid pipe or riser system through the dam should be at the standing pool elevation to ensure the skimmer does not function below the required elevation. A rock pad should be constructed for the skimming device to rest on when discharge is complete.  The skim...
Read more

Erosion and Sediment Control Tip #72

Image
  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
Read more