Soil Erosion: Control by Design

Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2018

Soil erosion control during construction has become a high profile issue across the country. Without a good plan, dealing with the problem can delay schedules, boost costs and draw regulatory attention.

Many factors come into play with soil erosion. Of course, it is generally caused by falling or flowing water, although wind and ice can also play a role. Whether soil erodes or not depends on several conditions, including slope length or gradient, vegetation and soil characteristics. Controlling erosion requires the engineer, developer and contractor to be aware of land changes during construction.

Here are five basic rules for keeping soil erosion in check:

 1. Keep disturbed areas small.
 2. Stabilize and protect disturbed areas as soon as possible.
 3. Keep storm water velocities low.
 4. Protect disturbed areas from storm water runoff.
 5. Retain sediment within the site area.

The most direct way to control soil erosion is to minimize the area under construction and stabilize the disturbed areas as soon as possible. Planting grass is the least expensive and most effective way to control erosion permanently and should be used wherever possible.

However, many projects require significant earthwork over a long period of time. These remedies require considerable thought and planning. Most use a combination of techniques such as check dams, diversion swales, sediment ponds, berms and drains. Materials such as riprap, filter fabric, hay bales, and stone filters are used, and the designs must work together.

Access roads and buffer strips can also be used in most projects. Access roads keep the roadway free of soil -- a potential hazard -- and reduce the amount of sediment leaving the site. Buffer strips of natural or planted vegetation along the perimeter of the project provide sediment filters and nutrient uptake. These measures must be inspected after rainfall and maintained regularly.

The development of a soil erosion control plan requires a coordinated effort by the developer, engineer, contractor, and local soil erosion control agency. So knowing where and how the project will be constructed lets the engineer design efficient controls. 

Unfortunately, even a well-designed soil erosion system can fail, particularly if rainfall exceeds estimates. In addition, materials could be defective and unknown underground conditions such as a spring can create situations where the capacity of the system is exceeded. But even these conditions can be minimized with proper design and foresight. 

Putting a good plan in place can save you time and money and keep local regulators satisfied.  Consult with your attorney for more information.

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