Minimum Control Measures For Small Construction Projects
Remember that storm drains and runoff flow directly to our creeks and rivers untreated. Taking minimum control measures for construction projects as noted below helps protect our waterways and their aquatic life.
Select an effective combination of control measures from each category, Erosion Control, Sediment Control, and Good Housekeeping. Control measures shall be continually implemented and maintained throughout the project until activities are complete, disturbed areas are stabilized with permanent erosion controls, and the local agency has signed off on permits that may have been required for the project. Inspect and maintain the control measures before and after rain events, and as required by the local agency or state permit.
- Plan the project and develop a schedule showing each phase of construction.
- Schedule construction activities to reduce erosion potential, such as scheduling ground disturbing activities during the summer and phasing projects to minimize the amount of area disturbed.
- Preserve existing vegetation to the extent possible, especially along creek buffers.
- Show creek buffers on maps and identify areas to be preserved in the field with temporary fencing.
- Cover disturbed soil.
- Erosion controls include straw mulch, erosion control blankets, and hydromulch.
- Soil preparation is essential to establishing vegetation and BMP installation.
- It includes soil testing and amendments to promote vegetation growth as well as roughening surface soils by mechanical methods (trackwalking, scarifying, stair stepping, etc.).
- Install erosion control blankets (or equivalent) on disturbed sites.
- Use wildlife-friendly blankets made of biodegradable natural materials. Avoid using blankets made with plastic netting or fixed aperture netting. Click here to see wildlife-friendly products.
- Re-vegetate areas of disturbed soil or vegetation as soon as practical.
- Stabilize site entrance to prevent tracking soil offsite.
- Inspect streets daily and sweep street as needed.
- Require vehicles and workers to use stabilized entrance.
- Place crushed rock 12-inches deep over a geotextile, using angular rock between 4 and 6 inches.
- Make the entrance as long as can be accommodated on the site, ideally long enough for 2 revolutions of the maximum tire size (16-20 feet long for most light trucks) and wide enough to accommodate the largest vehicle that will access the site, ideally 10 feet wide with sufficient radii for turning in and out of the site.
- Rumble pads or rumble racks can be used in lieu of or in conjunction with rock entrances.
- Wheel washes may be needed where space is limited or where the site entrance and sweeping is not effective.
- Use fiber rolls as a perimeter control measure, along contours of slopes, and around soil stockpiles.
- On slopes space rolls 10 to 20 feet apart (using closer spacing on steeper slopes). Install parallel to contour. If more than one roll is used in a row overlap roll do not abut.
- J-hook end of roll upslope.
- Install rolls per either Type 1 (stake rolls into shallow trenches) or Type 2 (stake in front and behind roll and lash with rope).
- Use wildlife-friendly fiber rolls made of biodegradable natural materials. Avoid using fiber rolls made with plastic netting or fixed aperture netting. Click here to see wildlife-friendly products.
- Manufactured linear sediment control or compost socks can be used in lieu of fiber rolls.
- Use silt fence as a perimeter control measure, and around soil stockpiles.
- Install silt fence along contours. Key silt fence into the soil and stake.
- Do not use silt fence for concentrated water flows.
- Install fence at least 3 feet back from the slope to allow for sediment storage.
- Wire backed fence can be used for extra strength.
- Avoid installing silt fence on slopes because they are hard to maintain.
- Manufactured linear sediment control can be used in lieu of silt fences.
- Use gravel bags, compost socks (or similar product) around drain inlets located both onsite and in gutter as a last line of defense.
- Bags should be made of a woven fabric resistant to photo-degradation filled with 0.5-1-in washed crushed rock.
- Do not use sand bags or silt fence fabric for drain inlet protection.
- Construct a lined concrete washout site away from storm drains, waterbodies, or other drainages. Ideally, place adjacent to stabilized entrance.
- Clean as needed and remove at end of project.
- Cover all stockpiles and landscape material and surround with perimeter controls.
- Keep stockpile within the project site and away from creeks and storm drain inlets.
- Hazardous materials must be kept in closed containers that are covered and within secondary containment.
- Do not place containers directly on soil.
- Place portable toilets near stabilized site entrance, behind the curb and away from gutters, storm drain inlets, and waterbodies.
- Tie or stake portable toilets to prevent tipping and equip units with overflow pan/tray (most vendors provide these).
- Prevent equipment fluid leaks onto ground by placing drip pans or plastic tarps under equipment.
- Immediately clean up any spills or drips.
- Designate waste collection areas on site.
- Use watertight dumpsters and trash cans; inspect for leaks.
- Cover at the end of each work day and when it is raining or windy.
- Arrange for regular waste collection.
- Pick up site litter daily.
Erosion Controls
Source control practices that protect soil and prevent soil particles from being detached by rainfall, flowing water, or wind.
1 – Scheduling: Scheduling allows you to plan activities when there is a lower chance of rain and to plan for BMP installation as the activities progress.
2 – Preserve Vegetation & Creek Set Backs: Existing vegetation is the best form of erosion control, doesn’t cost money to install, and requires little maintenance. Preserving vegetation between the site and creeks is especially important and required in some situations.
3 – Soil Cover: Soil cover products, like hydromulch, replace the erosion control benefit of vegetation removed during construction. These products can be quickly deployed over large (or small) disturbed areas for temporary protection and can be incorporated into final stabilization.
4 – Soil Preparation/Roughening: This practice prepares the soil for growing vegetation. Mechanically roughening the soil slows the water down and provides pockets that promote germination. Soil prep also includes testing the soil to identify if any amendments are needed to promote growth.
5 – Erosion Control Blankets: Soil cover products, like erosion control blankets, replace the erosion control benefit of vegetation removed during construction. These products are used for temporary projection and can be incorporated into final stabilization.
6 – Revegetation: Revegetation re-establishes vegetation on the areas of the site disturbed by construction to prevent erosion. It is part of the final stabilization of the site but may also be needed for temporary protection during the project.
Sediment Controls
Practices that trap soil particles (sediment) after they have been detached by rainfall, flowing water, or wind.
7 – Tracking Controls: Tracking controls are a suite of practices that limit the amount of dirt and mud tracked from a project into the street. Keeping dirt out of the street helps to keep it out of the storm drains and reduces complaints from neighbors.
8 – Fiber Rolls: Fiber rolls intercept runoff, reduce its velocity, and trap sediment behind the roll. They also reduce the length of a slope, which reduces sheet and rill erosion.
9 – Silt Fence: Silt fences detain (pond) water promoting sedimentation behind the fence.
10 – Drain Inlet Protection: Drain Inlet Protection (DI) is used as a last line of defense. It temporarily ponds water at the drain inlet, allowing some sediment to settle out. Some forms of DI protection can filter sediment during low flow events.
Good Housekeeping
Practices that prevent pollution by limiting the exposure of construction materials with rain, flowing water, or wind. These practices involve keeping a clean and orderly construction site.
11 – Concrete Washout: These practices prevent the discharge of high pH concrete wastewater into the ground or storm drains.
12 – Stockpile Management: These practices and procedures protect loose stockpiled materials from washing or blowing off the projects site.
13 – Hazardous Material Management: These practices prevent the discharge of hazardous materials by using proper storage of materials and wastes, and by minimizing the quantity of materials stored.
14 – Sanitary Waste Management: Proper management of sanitary waste facilities, e.g., portable toilets, prevents the discharge of wastewater to the ground and storm drains.
15 – Equipment and Vehicle Maintenance: These practices prevent discharges of vehicle fluids and wastes by limiting on-site maintenance and using practices a to contain and clean up small leaks and drips.
16 – Litter and Waste Management: These practices prevent the discharge of trash and wastes from the project site by using covered and contained trash cans and bins.