ESC BMPs

 Erosion & Sediment Control Best Management Practices

Erosion and Sediment Control is a rapidly changing field. There are traditional approaches, which have been applied to varying levels of success over the years. There are a host of new approaches, practices and proprietary products that we believe should be shared, understood, and considered on your sites. We know that we could never prepare a comprehensive list, but below please find an initial list of Best Management Practices we think you will find useful. We're happy to add and update this information as relevant material is suggested to us. Thanks for your help!




Erosion Controls: Source Controls Designed to Prevent Erosion From Occurring

• Construction Scheduling
  • Phasing Clearing & Earthworks & Revegetation
  • Protection of Natural Area/Vegetation
• Seeding
  • Manual Distribution
  • Hydroseed
  • Terraseed
• Mulch
  • Topsoil/Compost
  • Hay/Straw
  • Wood Chips
• Polyethylene Sheeting
• Rolled Erosion Control Products
• Slope Texturing/Tracking
• Straw Wattles
• Check Dams* (Slowing Velocity to Prevent Erosion)
  • Rock
  • Sandbag
  • Straw Bale
  • Proprietary Dams
• Alternative Channel Design
  • Turf Reinforcement Mat
  • Rock Lining
  • Poly Lining
  • Flatter, Wider, Gentler Sloped Section
• Site Runoff Control/Diversion
• Energy Dissipator

Sediment Controls: Downstream Controls Designed to Remove Sediment from Runoff

• Sediment Fence
• Sediment Pond
• Stabilized Construction Access
  • Gravel Access Pad (w/w/o Geotextile)
  • Passive Wheel Wash
  • Mechanized Wheel Wash
• Inlet Sediment Barriers
  • CB Inserts
  • CB Surrounds
• Check Dams* (Slowing Velocity to Promote Sedimentation or Filtration)**
• Filter Socks/Tubes/Berms
• Oil/Grit Separators (Hydrodynamic Separation)
• Mechanical Filtration
• Flocculant

The overarching principle of Erosion Controls vs. Sediment Controls is that it is much easier and cheaper to prevent erosion from occurring in the first place than to try and remove the sediment once it has eroded!

**Author's Personal Opinion: Trapping Sediment in Watercourses is not a Recommended Approach!!