Field Maintenance of Structural and Vegetative MeasuresLevel 1A: Fundamentals Seminar

Education and Certification for Persons Involved in Land Disturbing ActivitiesIssued May 2009

MaintenanceIn order to effectively control erosion and prevent sedimentation, a series of properly designed, installed, and MAINTAINED BMPs must be utilized

Best Management PracticesBMPs Required on LDAs by the Erosion and Sedimentation Control Act of 1975, as amended.

Three keys to BMPsProper Design, Installation, and MaintenanceErosion Control versus Sediment ControlVegetative PracticesControl ErosionTreat the SourceStructural PracticesControl SedimentationTreat After Erosion Has Begun

The revised 2002 Field Manual For Erosion and Sediment Control In Georgia specifies the required maintenance

In the Field Manual, each BMP has a section for:BMP DefinitionBMP PurposeProper InstallationProper Maintenance

Example from Field ManualConstruction Exit (Co)Definition:

Example from Field ManualConstruction Exit (Co)Purpose:

Example from Field ManualConstruction Exit (Co)Installation:

Example from Field ManualConstruction Exit (Co)Maintenance:

Information found in Maintenance sectionVegetative Practices: Lime requirements, fertilizer requirements, re-seeding, mowing, etc.

Structural Practices: Inspections and monitoring, clean out and de-mucking requirements, replacing materials, etc.

The Erosion, Sedimentation and Pollution Control PlanThe ES&PC plan specifies the location, design specifications, installation directions, and maintenance requirements for all necessary BMPs using GSWCC code.Use only the approved plan!

The ES&PC Plan

Field Maintenance ofVegetative Measures

Field Manual specifies straw or hay mulching depths should be 2-4

Proper Mulch Depth

Slope needs stabilization

The slope is now properly stabilized

Maintenance is required

Temporary stabilization is required

Area now has vegetation, but maintenance is required

Proper temporary stabilization

Field Maintenance ofStructural Measures

Field Manual specifies the clean out height as one-half full

Type C silt fence is supposed to be trenched in 6 inches

Curb inlet protection properly installed and maintained?

Is a board in the Manual?

Co in need of serious maintenance

Is maintenance needed here?

Picture taken on 9/20/04

Same pond, one month laterAre BMPs being maintained?

Is maintenance the problem here?

Regardless of recorded readings, this is not working!!!Note monitor for water quality

Why maintain BMPs???Possible enforcement action by regulatory agenciesLoss of soil and water resourcesImpacts on the environment and economyCitizen ComplaintsCivil suits

Agencies Involved in Citizen Complaint ResolutionLocal Issuing AuthoritiesLocal Soil and Water Conservation DistrictsGeorgia Soil and Water Conservation CommissionEnvironmental Protection DivisionEnvironmental Protection Agency

Citizen complaints

Property DamageAdjacent property owners lake impacted due to poor installation and maintenance of BMPs.

Property Damage

SummaryErosion and sedimentation is a serious problem associated with active construction sites. Implementing a series of sound Best Management Practices that are properly designed, installed, and maintained is the only way to prevent problems.Use the approved erosion and sediment control plan and the Field Manual for guidance.

Questions ?

Self explanatoryReview of Best Management Practices.

A Field Manual should be on every site. If you do not have one, a request form for a free copy can be found on the Commissions website at www.gaswcc.org.

Self explanatoryLets go through the different sections in the Field Manual using the Construction Exit (Co) as an example. Here is the definition of a Construction Exit.

The purpose of each BMP is given.

Installation instructions are given for each BMP as well as the minimum required specificationsA section for the necessary maintenance is also given for each BMP.

Describe the types of maintenance that are outlined for vegetative and structural practices in the Field Manual.

The approved erosion and sediment control plan must also be followed for maintenance requirements. It is very important that only the approved plan is used.

Here is an example of an erosion and sediment control plan showing existing and proposed contours, State Waters buffers, and locations of BMPs using SSWCC code.

Self explanatory

Self explanatoryThe contractor on this site tried to stabilize this fill slope with a thin layer of mulch. This slope requires erosion control matting and permanent vegetation.Know what the slope requires. Doing it right the first time will prevent unnecessary costs, save time and prevent stop work orders.Self explanatory

The stabilized slope must be inspected periodically to see if maintenance is needed. This area must be re-vegetated as soon as possible to prevent the formation of a rill or gully. The source of water down this slope must also be controlled.

Any disturbed area left idle must be stabilized within 14 days.

The area now has vegetation but some type of maintenance is required. Additional seeding and adding fertilizer and/or lime are likely candidates.The area is now properly stabilized.

This silt fence has not been properly maintained. It is also very likely that additional BMPs are required uphill from this area to control the sediment at its source.This site now has no perimeter control because of a lack of maintenance. Blowouts are evident on the concrete channel.

This silt fence was not properly trenched in. Perhaps the site may have passed inspection if it wasnt so windy that day.

The area around this drop inlet was excavated to allow for additional storage. However, that excavated area needs to be continually cleaned out to maintain the required sediment storage volumes.

This silt-saver is obviously not being properly maintainedThis jute roll needs to be repaired and all trapped sediment around the curb inlet needs to be cleaned out.

This board will probably not be very efficient in trapping sediment. Remember to refer to the Field Manual for proper instructions when necessary.

The Field Manual says that a construction exit must be 50 X 20 X 6 and have a geotextile underliner.

Not only is this St in need of maintenance, but the basin itself needs some work to prevent sediment loss. In this case, the retrofit had failed and allowed sediments to enter adjacent State Waters.

This picture was taken on 9/20/04. The retrofit had not been properly anchored to the outlet control structure and there was an overall lack of maintenance of this basin.

One month later, the half-pipe had been stood up but thats about it. The basin needs to be demucked and the retrofit needs additional filter stone.

Take note of the pond (State Waters) behind the sediment basin. Prior to this development, that pond sustained a healthy population of largemouth bass and bream. Now, it is very unlikely that any live fish remain.

Maintenance is probably not the problem here. In this area of concentrated flow, a stone check dam or temporary sediment basin would have been a more appropriate BMP to use.

Self explanatoryWeve discussed various reasons for utilizing BMPs today including possible enforcement actions by regulatory agencies, loss of soil and water resources, and impacts to the environment and economy. Lets take a minute to discuss citizen complaints and civil suits.

In areas where there is a local issuing authority:Citizen complaints are referred to the local issuing authority. If the local issuing authority fails to resolve the complaint, local Soil and Water Conservation Districts and/or the State Soil and Water Conservation Commission can be contacted for additional assistance. The Districts and Commission are non-regulatory entities that can offer technical assistance to resolve a complaint. The Districts and/or Commission can form a District Assessment Team (DAT) to investigate the complaint and reach a resolution. If the DAT finds any local issuing authority that is either unwilling or unable to enforce its local E&SC ordinance, then the DAT may recommend that EPD decertify said issuing authority.

In areas where there is not a certified local issuing authority:All citizen complaints are referred to the district offices of EPD.These residents are receiving a large amount of sediment laden water from an uphill development.Sedimentation can cause costly property damage to adjacent property owners and often is resolved with civil law suits. It costs thousands of dollars to dredge out sediments deposited in a lake this size. In this case, a judge ordered the developer to cover 100% of the costs.This property owners lake has been severely impacted by an upstream development. The estimated cost to remove the deposited sediments was approximately $28,000.Review