Best Management Practices Used Before

Adams County Soil & Water Conservation District
338 South 36th Street Quincy, IL 62301 Phone: 217/224-9305, Ext 3 E-mail: acsw@adams.net

Best Management Practices Used Before & During Construction

Compost Blankets

Both compost blankets and mulching are used to temporarily prevent soil erosion. They are used until a permanent seeding or planting of vegetation can be done.

Compost blankets consist of compost applied in a layer at least 2" thick, and should be thicker if soil and site conditions deem it necessary.

Compost blankets are used as temporary soil stabilization while vegetation is established. Seeding or planting is done after the blanket has been installed, or can be done while the blanket is being put down if a blower truck is used.

Compost blankets also improve soil conditions by adding organic matter and increasing water retention.

Do not use compost blankets where there is a concentrated flow of water (such as drainageways).

Mulching

Generally, straw mulch is used to protect the soil from erosion until permanent vegetation is established.

Straw mulch can be applied by hand or blown on at a rate of 1-60 lb bale per 650 square feet, or 90 lbs./1000 square feet.

Anchor using a spade or shovel to punch the straw about 4" deep. The "punches" should be 12" apart.

Grading Strategies

When developing an area for home sites or commercial/industrial sites, designing the developments to fit the existing landscape minimizes the amount of grading and also the amount of soil exposed to erosion.

Phased grading is recommended. This divides grading into phases, with the first phase being completed and either temporary or permanent cover established before grading starts on the next phase.

Deep tillage should be done as the final step of the grading process to reduce soil compaction and help increase water infiltration and decrease runoff.

Geotextiles

Today there are many products that can be used to hold the soil in place until permanent vegetative cover is established. Geotextiles can also be used alone for erosion control. They can be used as matting to stabilize the flow of channels or swales, or to protect seeding on recently planted slopes until they become established. More on geotextiles

Filter Strips

Filter strips are strips of vegetation left as a buffer between construction sites and stream corridors. They reduce the velocity of runoff leaving a construction site, filter sediment and enhance filtration of runoff.

Filter strips can be a combination of trees, shrubs and grasses or forbs. They should be a minimum of 10' wide.

Native vegetation is best when planting filter strips. Plants native to the Midwest

Rock Check Dams

These structures trap sediment and slow water flow. They are used to prevent gully erosion caused by concentrated flows of water. Trapping the sediment prevents the soil particles from becoming water pollutants once they enter streams or lakes.

Inlet Protection Devices

This practice removes sediment from runoff before it enters storm drains. Once sediment enters the storm drains, it is carried to streams or rivers. Straw bales, gravel and filter fabrics (geotextiles) are usually used for barriers.

Sediment Control Basins

These basins are used on construction sites to catch sediment by retaining and slowly releasing water runoff. They can be used temporarily until construction is completed and vegetation is established and can also be used to manage stormwater after the development is completed

Silt Fence

Silt fences are used to temporarily trap sediment from construction sites. Usually they are constructed from geotextile fabric, but other materials can be used also.

Infiltration Trenches

Usually used with streets, roads and parking lots, these trenches allow temporary storage of water runoff in the space between impervious surfaces and helps surface runoff soak into the surrounding soil.

Permeable Paving

Urban areas have a lot of impervious surfaces like parking lots, roofs, and streets. Permeable paving allows at least a portion of surface water runoff to soak into the soil. Permeable surfaces should not be used for high traffic areas, but are best suited for fire lanes or overflow parking areas at facilities used infrequently (like churches, stadiums, malls). Paver blocks and geoweb reinforced gravel are examples of materials that are used interspersed with grassed surfaces.

Soil Quality Restoration

Probably the most important component in reducing soil erosion and sedimentation and improving water quality is the soil itself. In urban communities, the soils are often disturbed and severely compacted. Organic matter is generally low, and the topsoil is thin.

Minimize land-disturbing activities. In areas where you cannot avoid compacting soil, perform deep tillage before establishing permanent vegetation. Compost can be added to achieve higher organic matter content. If performing deep tillage, remember to call JULIE at 1-800-892-0123 for underground utility locations.

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