Sheet Flow Construction Erosion Control

December 10, 2020

Infiltration Berm

I call these infiltration berms. They aren’t berms like the others in this presentation but they function the same way-they contain water, divert water, or both.

The first two photos show created berms and the last is a utility trench that has not been paved yet. The first two were installed to contain the dirty runoff from muddy shoreline rip rap that we had to remove to install piling.

The berm surrounds about two acres of paved surface. The asphalt was removed to expose the subgrade to allow runoff to infiltrate. These can be designed but we didn’t have time.

To do this correctly, you should figure out how much runoff you will have, how much storage volume to create (this determines how long and how wide the trench is) and the actual infiltration rate of the subgrade.

The last photo shows how you can use your site to your advantage.

Presentation: David Jenkins-Sheetflow Erosion Control
Presentation: David Jenkins-Sheetflow Erosion Control
Presentation: David Jenkins-Sheetflow Erosion Control

August 3, 2020

More Infiltration

Photo: David Jenkins

Here is a good example of using infiltration to manage excess, relatively clean, stormwater during construction. When water builds up around the covered catch basin, it flows into the area to the right and infiltrates, preventing flooding.

Photo: David Jenkins

Closeup of double plastic layers under catch basin grate and infiltration area.

July 31, 2020

Catch Basin Covered-Infiltration

catch basin covered to allow infiltration of construction stormwater in hole cut in asphalt and filled with rock
Photo: David Jenkins

This is the first project we have cut asphalt to allow construction stormwater to infiltrate. The area is paved, flat. The sweeper runs constantly but the water is still too turbid to go down the drain. The fill soil under the asphalt is sandy. If we just covered the catch basin with 30 Mil PVC, the area would just flood, then drain to another catch basin. Solution? Cut out a section of asphalt full depth to the sandy soil, fill with 3 to 5 inch rock. This way the water infiltrates but vehicles can drive over the hole. This is working really well so we will be doing this on future container dock upgrade projects.

June 20, 2018

Pump Plug and Infiltration

Pump Plug and Infiltration Pond Used to Dispose of Turbid Water-

Construction erosion and sediment control means managing storm water until the permanent storm water system is functional.

We managed storm water from this 3 acre site  by pumping turbid runoff to an on-site, infiltration pond.

Video: David Jenkins

September 27, 2020

Erosion Control Photos

Filed under: — Sheetflow @ 3:49 pm

All photos may be used for teaching and training purposes with attribution to: David Jenkins, sheetflow.com

Photos may not be used for commercial purposes without prior express permission from David Jenkins, sheetflow.com

April 29, 2020

More Cool Things to do With Compost

Photo: David Jenkins

The best way to get grass growing quickly is to use soil amendment. This is composted yard waste, spread three inches thick. It will be tilled in the top six to 12 inches, track-walked, then sprayed with bonded fiber matrix, seed and 100% nitrogen fertilizer. We get the added benefit of increased water infiltration, reducing our storm water discharge volume.

August 25, 2010

Grass and Dirt Berm

Let’s talk about grass and dirt berms.  Most erosion plans show silt fence installed around the project perimeter. This makes sense when a project has some risk of eroded sediment leaving the project.

When the risk is low, the area is small, the soil is loose with high infiltration, silt fence is overkill, wasted expense, and creates landfill waste. When possible, alternative methods of perimeter protection should be considered: berms, straw wattles, vegetation, buffers.

We pushed existing grass and vegetation to the edge of the project and covered it with straw.  The project involved tilling compost 12″ into the native soil with a 12″ bark cover.

The seed and root mass in the soil will grow fairly quickly and become part of the overall native plant mitigation area.

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