Best Management Practices

Properties, waters (creeks, streams, wetlands, etc), drainage channels and ditches adjacent to the site shall be protected from deposit of sediment. This may be accomplished through the preservation of a well vegetated buffer strip around the lower perimeter of the land disturbance, by installing perimeter controls such as sediment barriers or sediment basins or dikes, or any combination of such measures. Here are some examples:

• Brush Barrier
• Compost Filter Socks
  • Siltsoxx (go to the products page then select the siltsoxx)
• Fibre Rolls (Coir and Straw Wattles)
  • Coir Fiber Biologs
  • Nilex - SedimentSTOP and Wattles
  • Rolanka International's BioD-Watl
  • Venture Fibre Company
    Phone: 1-888-VFC-COIR
• Silt Checks/Dikes, Tubes
  • BioD SiltCheck
  • Kristar rice straw wattles, slopegard 1, 2 and 3
  • SedimentSTOP
  • TerraTubes

Municipalities around the country are increasing their use of catch basin inserts to treat stormwater before it enters surface waters. Part of the increase stems from requirements to meet federal and state regulations and part because it's the right thing to do. The ability to capture trash, sediment, and pollutants such as oil, grease, and metals increases the quality of the environment for everyone.

A multitude of companies are manufacturing products for the catch basin filtration market. Whether your need is for sediment removal, mitigation of pollutants, or trash capture, try these websites to find a product to meet your needs.

• Inlet Protection - Construction
  • Dandy Curb Bag, Dandy Curb Sack, Dandy Sack, Dandy Bag
  • GrateGator
  • GutterBuddy
  • GutterGator
  • KrisStar Silt mat and floGard T-Series
  • Sediguard
  • Silt Sack
  • Soil Tek - inlet protection
  • Wimco Road Drain Top slab and Curb and Gutter
• Inlet Protection - Post Construction
  • Baysaver Technologies, Inc.
  • Cleanway
  • Contech Engineered Solutions
  • Fabco
  • FloGuard Plus
  • Royal Environmental Systems, Inc, ecostorm Plus
  • Spill 911, Grate Guard, DrainGuards, etc.
  • StormDrain solutions- Inceptor

Dust control BMPs reduce surface activities and air movement that causes dust to be generated from disturbed soil surfaces. Construction sites can generate large areas of soil disturbance and open space for wind to pick up dust particles. Limited research at construction sites has established an average dust emission rate of 1.2 tons per acre per month for active construction (WA Department of Ecology, 1992). Airborne particles pose a dual threat to the environment and human health. First, dust can be carried offsite, thereby increasing soil loss from the construction area and increasing the likelihood of sedimentation and water pollution. Second, blowing dust particles can contribute to respiratory health problems and create an inhospitable working environment.

Dust control measures are applicable to any construction site where there is the potential for air and water pollution from dust traveling across the landscape or through the air. Dust control measures are especially important in arid or semiarid regions, where soil can become extremely dry and vulnerable to transport by high winds. Implement dust control measures on all construction sites where there will be major soil disturbances or heavy equipment construction activity such as clearing, excavation, demolition, or excessive vehicle traffic. Earthmoving activities are the major source of dust from construction sites, but traffic and general disturbances can also be major contributors (WA Department of Ecology, 1992). The dust control measures that are implemented at a site will depend on the topography and land cover of the site and its soil characteristics and expected rainfall.

When designing a dust control plan for a site, the amount of soil exposed will dictate the quantity of dust generation and transport. Therefore, construction sequencing and disturbing only small areas at a time can greatly reduce problematic dust from a site. If land must be disturbed, consider using temporary stabilization measures before disturbance. A number of methods can be used to control dust from a site; not all will be applicable to a site. The owner, operator, and contractors responsible for dust control at a site will have to determine which practices accommodate their needs according to specific site and weather conditions.

• Wind and Sand Fences
• Invisible Structures, Inc.

Vehicle tracking is a temporary construction entrance that is typically a stone pad located where vehicles leave a construction site. The purpose of the stone pad is to provide an area where mud can be removed from tires before a vehicle leaves the site. The stone pad consists of clean rock designed in such a way that vehicle tires will sink in slightly. This helps remove mud from the tires as the vehicle passes over the pad.

The effectiveness of temporary rock construction entrances for trapping sediment depends upon the length, depth of rock, frequency of use and maintenance, as well as the type of structure used. A newly installed rock construction entrance will be relatively effective. However, once the rock voids become clogged with mud, the practice will not serve its intended purpose until the rock is replaced. Include a wash rack where vehicle tires can be washed to increase effectiveness.

• Stabiligrid
• Vehicle Tracking Pads IDOT (PDF)
• Vehicle Tracking Pads NDOT (PDF)

Erosion control is the practice of preventing or controlling wind or water erosion in agriculture, land development and construction. This usually involves the creation of some sort of physical barrier, such as vegetation or rock, to absorb some of the energy of the wind or water that is causing the erosion. Effective erosion controls are important techniques in preventing water pollution and soil loss. They are often implemented in conjunction with sediment controls such as sediment basins and silt fences.

• Turf reinforcement mats (TRM)
  • American Green VMax3
  • Enkamat TRM
  • Nilex TRM
• Erosion control mats
  • Erosion control blanket
  • Greenfix
  • Nilex ECB
• Articulated concrete blocks
  • Contech Engineered Solutions
  • Royal Enterprises
• Grass parking areas
  • ArmorTurf
  • Geoblock® Porous Pavement System
  • Grass Pave2