Sheet Flow Construction Erosion Control

April 21, 2020

Hot Mix Asphalt Berm

Photo: David Jenkins

The work area is the left. All runoff is diverted by silt fence and this hot mix asphalt berm to a sump, where it is pumped to a chitosan-enhanced sand filtration treatment system. This system prevented all turbid site water from entering the roadside ditch-outside of the silt fence-from draining to a creek. Note the mud on the left side of the berm and the clean asphalt on the right.

Since this is summer work and perimeter BMPs are containing all site runoff, we are not covering bare soil.

Upon completion and soil stabilization, the asphalt berm will be removed and hauled to an asphalt batch plant for recycle.

October 31, 2019

Is This Silt Fence Necessary?

photo: David Jenkins

Is this silt fence necessary? Overlooking the fact that this silt fence installation needs some maintenance, I wonder if it was ever really needed in this location? The slope grades to the fence are minimal and not very long, and the roadside ditch line is graded so that water will drain away from the road.

This type of silt fence installation is appropriate at the base of long, steep slopes, or if there is risk of sediment travelling off site. Also, all of the materials used will likely be land filled and not reused, including the wire backing and the “T” posts.

If this were my site, I would have installed orange safety fence with steel “T” posts, maybe with a compost berm along the base, on the project side. The safety fence can be easily removed and reused later, and the compost could be raked into the ditch line and hydroseeded.

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