The Path of Least Resistance: 5 Easy Steps to Help With Erosion and Sediment Control When Developing a Site

If you are putting up a house or any other building, you need to make long-term plans for diverting stormwater away from the structure. Whilst building, you also need to focus on erosion and sediment control. There are a lot of steps you can take that have varying levels of involvement and difficulty.

However, there are a few easy things that can help as well. Try these ideas:

1. Limit the Amount of Vehicles on the Site

Heavy machinery is essential when you are developing a site, but if you let the big trucks drive all over the site, their wheels will break up the land. That can lead to unwanted soil erosion. Preventing this is easy.

Just make a plan so that the heavy machinery only drives over key parts of the lot. For example, outline an access trail or restrict them to a corner unless it's absolutely necessary for them to come closer.

2. Keep Plants Intact

Restricting where your heavy machinery can go helps with this step, but in general, consider keeping as much vegetation intact as possible throughout the project. The roots help to absorb stormwater and prevent soil erosion.

Even if you plan to eventually remove some of the vegetation to put in turf, you should keep it intact until you are ready for that step. It can help with erosion and sediment control whilst you are building.

3. Develop With the Natural Slope

You may want to plan your development around the natural slope of the land. This helps with present and future erosion and sediment control. An example of this is placing the structure on the highest point on the property.

4. Place a Sediment Barrier

Even with vegetation intact and using the natural slope, the project will still generate some sediment. To deal with it easily, put down a sediment barrier. That just stops the sediment from rushing into the area's drainage system or nearby waterways.

Too much sediment in those areas can lead to clogs which end up making drainage impossible. In addition, set up a special area for washing off tools and machinery. When you knock off dirt or concrete, you don't want it to flow into waterways. Ideally, those activities should happen behind the sediment barrier.  

5. Work With an Erosion and Sediment Control Management Specialist

To further make these tasks easy on yourself, you may want to hire an erosion and sediment control management specialist. These professionals can help you control these elements throughout the development stage. They can also help set up long term stormwater drainage for the site.