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Erosion Control Measures

Basic Control Measures

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  Construction Site Mulching

Code References

  • "All disturbed ground left inactive for 10 or more days shall be stabilized by seeding or sodding, or by mulching or covering, or other equivalent control measure." (Reference: Section 290-7.2.e-3 of the City Code of Ordinances).
  • "If {soil or dirt storage piles are} remaining for more than 10 days, they shall be stabilized by mulching, vegetative cover, tarps, or other means." (Reference: Section 290-7.2.e-6 of the City Code of Ordinances).

 Quick Tips

  • Mulch shall be inspected weekly at minimum and within 24 hours after a precipitation event of 0.5 inches or greater.
  • Displaced mulch shall be reapplied and properly anchored.
  • Mulch shall be placed within 24 hours of seeding.
  • Mulch shall cover a minimum of 80% of the soil surface for unseeded areas and at least 70% of the soil surface for seeded areas.
  • The anchoring of mulch shall be based on the type of mulch applied, site conditions, and accomplished by crimping, netting, or tackifiers.
  Construction Site Seeding

Code References

  • "All disturbed ground left inactive for 10 or more days shall be stabilized by seeding or sodding, or by mulching or covering, or other equivalent control measure." (Reference: Section 290-7.2.e-3 of the City Code of Ordinances).
  • "If {soil or dirt storage piles are} remaining for more than 10 days, they shall be stabilized by mulching, vegetative cover, tarps, or other means." (Reference: Section 290-7.2.e-6 of the City Code of Ordinances).

Quick Tips

  • Seeding shall be inspected weekly at minimum and within 24 hours after a precipitation event of 0.5 inches or greater.  Continue to inspect seeded areas on a weekly basis through the growing season or until vegetation is densely established.
  • Seeded areas showing erosion damage shall be repaired and reseeded.
  • Temporary seeding shall be applied on a minimum 2-inch deep seedbed of loose soil.
  • Permanment seeding shall be applied on a minimum 4-inch deep seedbed of loose topsoil with the ability to support a dense vegetative cover.
  • Rocks, twigs, foreign materials, and clods over 2-inches shall be removed or broken down prior to seeding.
  • Seed shall be applied no more than 1/4 inch deep.
  • Perform a soil test prior to applying fertilizer to avoid over-application of fertilizer.
  Sediment Bale Barrier

Code References

  • "For sites with less than 5 acres disturbed at one time, filter fences, straw bales or equivalent control measures shall be placed along all side slope and down slope sides of the site. (Reference: Section 290-7.2.e-5 of the City Code of Ordinances).
  • "Perimeter erosion control measures shall be placed within 24 hours of beginning excavating." (Reference: Section Comm 21.125(1)(a) of the Wisconsin Administrative Code).
  • "Erosion control measures shall be placed along down slope areas and along side slope areas as required to prevent or reduce erosion where erosion during construction will result in a loss of soil to waters of the state, public sewer inlets or off-site." (Reference: Section Comm 21.125(1)(a) of the Wisconsin Administrative Code).

Quick Tips

  • Sediment bale barriers shall be inspected weekly at minimum and within 24 hours after a precipitation event of 0.5 inches or greater.  Damaged or decomposing bales and any undercutting or bypassing of flow around the bales shall be repaired immediately upon notice.
  • Sediment deposits shall be properly disposed of when the deposits have accumulated to 1/2 the height of the sediment bale barriers.
  • Sediment bale barriers shall not be placed perpendicular to flow in swales, ditches, streams, or any other place where concentrated runoff exists.
  • Sediment bale barriers shall not be placed where the up slope gradient is greater than 50% (2:1 slope).
  • The ends of sediment bale barriers ends shall extend up slope to prevent water from flowing around the barrier.
  • Sediment bale barriers shall be entrenched and backfilled.
  • The holes between bales shall be filled by wedging straw or hay.
  • At least two wood stakes, steel posts, or rebar shall be driven through each bale to securely anchor the barrier.  The first stake shall be driven toward the previously installed bale to force the bales together.
  • Bales shall be oriented so that the bindings are around the sides of the bales (rather than along the tops and bottoms of the bales) when installed.
  Silt Fence

Code References

  • "For sites with less than 5 acres disturbed at one time, filter fences, straw bales or equivalent control measures shall be placed along all side slope and down slope sides of the site. (Reference: Section 290-7.2.e-5 of the City Code of Ordinances).
  • If a channel or area of concentrated runoff passes through the site, filter fences shall be placed along the channel edges to reduce sediment reaching the channel." (Reference: Section 290-7.2.e-5 of the City Code of Ordinances).
  • "Perimeter erosion control measures shall be placed within 24 hours of beginning excavating." (Reference: Section Comm 21.125(1)(a) of the Wisconsin Administrative Code).
  • "Erosion control measures shall be placed along down slope areas and along side slope areas as required to prevent or reduce erosion where erosion during construction will result in a loss of soil to waters of the state, public sewer inlets or off-site." (Reference: Section Comm 21.125(1)(a) of the Wisconsin Administrative Code).

Quick Tips

  • Silt fence shall be inspected weekly at minimum and within 24 hours after a precipitation event of 0.5 inches or greater.
  • Sediment deposits shall be properly disposed of when the deposits have accumulated to 1/2 the height of the fence.
  • Silt fence shall not be placed perpendicular to flow in swales, ditches, streams, or any other place where concentrated runoff exists.
  • Silt fence shall not be placed where the up slope gradient is greater than 50% (2:1 slope).
  • Silt fence ends shall extend up slope to prevent water from flowing around the fence.
  • Where two lengths of silt fence meet, the end posts shall be wrapped around each other to provide a secure joint or the lengths shall overlapped the distance between two posts.
  • Silt fence shall be anchored by burying at least 8 inches of fence fabric in either a 4-inch wide by 6-inch deep trench or a 6-inch deep V-trench on the up slope side of the fence (support posts should then be on the downhill side of the fence).
  • The maximum spacing between silt fence support posts shall be 8 feet for woven fabric fence and 3 feet for non-woven fence.
  • When installing silt fence near trees, avoid compaction and root cutting within 1.5 feet multiplied by the inch diameter of the tree (i.e., for an 8-inch tree avoid a 12-foot radius around the tree trunk).
  • Torn, degraded, trampled, or otherwise compromised silt fence shall be properly replaced immediately upon notice.
  Stone Tracking Pad

Code References

  • "Each site shall have graveled roads, access drives and parking areas of sufficient width and length to prevent sediment from being tracked onto public or private roadways." (Reference: Section 290-7.2.c of the City Code of Ordinances).
  • "Sediment tracked by construction equipment from a site onto a public or private paved road or sidewalk shall be minimized by providing a non-tracking access roadway." (Reference: Section Comm 21.125(1)(c) of the Wisconsin Administrative Code).
  • "Prevent tracking of sediment from the construction site onto roads and other paved surfaces." (Reference: Section NR 151.11(6)(c)(1) of the Wisconsin Administrative Code).

Quick Tips

  • Tracking pads shall be inspected weekly at minimum and within 24 hours after a precipitation event of 0.5 inches or greater.
  • Tracking pads shall be constantly maintained by scraping or top-dressing with additional aggregate.
  • Tracking pads shall consist of 3" to 6" clear or washed stone.
  • Tracking pads shall be installed and maintained to a thickness of 12-inches or greater.
  • Tracking pads shall be minimum of 50 feet long when space is available.
  • Any sediment reaching a public or private road shall be removed immediately by street cleaning (not flushing).
  Storm Drain Inlet Protection

Code References

  • "All storm drain inlets shall be protected with a straw bale, frame with filter fabric or equivalent barrier meeting accepted design criteria, standards and specifications." (Reference: Section 290-7.2.d of the City Code of Ordinances).
  • "Downslope, on-site public sewer inlets shall be protected with erosion control procedures." (Reference: Section Comm 21.125(1)(e) of the Wisconsin Administrative Code).
  • "Protect separate storm drain inlet structures from receiving sediment." (Reference: Section NR 151.11(6)(c)(3) of the Wisconsin Administrative Code).

 Quick Tips

  • Inlet protection shall be inspected weekly at minimum and within 24 hours after a precipitation event of 0.5 inches or greater.
  • Sediment deposits shall be removed from inlet protection devices when the sediment has accumulated to between 1/3 and 1/2 the design depth of the device or when the device is no longer functioning as designed.
  • Care shall be taken to ensure that sediment does not fall into inlets during the cleaning of protective devices.
  • Silt fence fabric shall not be used for inlet protection.

Advanced Control Measures

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  Channel Erosion Mat

Code References

  • "All disturbed ground left inactive for 10 or more days shall be stabilized by seeding or sodding, or by mulching or covering, or other equivalent control measure." (Reference: Section 290-7.2.e-3 of the City Code of Ordinances).
  • "Erosion control measures shall be placed along down slope areas and along side slope areas as required to prevent or reduce erosion where erosion during construction will result in a loss of soil to waters of the state, public sewer inlets or off-site." (Reference: Section Comm 21.125(1)(a) of the Wisconsin Administrative Code).
  • "Slopes greater than or equal to 12% with a down slope length of 10 feet or more, are not considered stabilized with seeding and mulching unless used in conjunction with a tackifier, netting, or matting." (Reference: Section Comm 21.125(b) of the Wisconsin Administrative Code).

Quick Tips

  • Erosion mat shall be inspected weekly at minimum and within 24 hours after a precipitation event of 0.5 inches or greater.
  • Install more staples or more frequent anchor trenches if rilling under the mat is observed during inspections.
  • The type of erosion mat used shall conform to channel slope and channel length requirements of the Wisconsin Erosion Control Product Acceptability (PAL).  See the "Channel Erosion Control Matrix" (Figure 1) of the PAL for more details. 
  • Channel erosion mat shall be used where runoff channelizes in intermittent flow.
  • The erosion mat shall be installed and anchored in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.
  • The erosion mat shall be installed after placing any topsoil, fertilizer, lime, or seed.
  • The erosion mat shall be maintained to keep complete and firm contact with the underlying soil.
  • The erosion mat shall extend at least 1 foot vertically from the channel bottom or 6 inches above the design water level (whichever is greater).
  Construction Site Diversion

 

Code References

  • "Channelized runoff from adjacent areas passing through the site shall be diverted around disturbed areas, if practical." (Reference: Section 290-7.2.e-1 of the City Code of Ordinances).
  • "Diverted runoff shall be conveyed in a manner that will not erode the conveyance and receiving channels." (Reference: Section 290-7.2.e-1 of the City Code of Ordinances).
  • "Erosion control measures shall be placed along down slope areas and along side slope areas as required to prevent or reduce erosion where erosion during construction will result in a loss of soil to waters of the state, public sewer inlets or off-site." (Reference: Section Comm 21.125(1)(a) of the Wisconsin Administrative Code).

Quick Tips

  • Diversion structures shall be inspected weekly at minimum and within 24 hours after a precipitation event of 0.5 inches or greater.
  • Sediment deposits shall be properly disposed of when the deposits have accumulated to 1/2 the height of the diversion berm.
  • Diversion can be used as a temporary storm water runoff control measure for the following conditions: (1) Above disturbed areas to limit runoff coming onto the site; (2) Across slopes to limit slope length; (3) Below slopes to divert runoff to stabilized areas; (4) To divert sediment laden runoff to treatment facilities; (5) At the perimeter of the the disturbed area to keep sediment retained on the construction site.
  • Diversion berms shall have side slopes of 2 (horizontal) to 1 (vertical) or flatter and not be overtopped by the 2-year, 24-hour duration storm event.
  • Diversion berms shall have a minimum top width of 2 feet and a minimum height of 1.5 feet.
  • Diversion berms shall be stabilized as soon as they are constructed and prior to any down slope disturbances.
  • When designing diversion berms, consider the use of an emergency overflow section to limit damage during storms exceeding the 2-year, 24-hour duration event.  Rip rap protection shall be provided at overflow sections.
  Ditch Checks

Code References

  • "For sites with less than 5 acres disturbed at one time, filter fences, straw bales or equivalent control measures shall be placed along all side slope and down slope sides of the site. (Reference: Section 290-7.2.e-5 of the City Code of Ordinances).
  • "Erosion control measures shall be placed along down slope areas and along side slope areas as required to prevent or reduce erosion where erosion during construction will result in a loss of soil to waters of the state, public sewer inlets or off-site." (Reference: Section Comm 21.125(1)(a) of the Wisconsin Administrative Code).

Quick Tips

  • Ditch checks shall be inspected weekly at minimum and within 24 hours after a precipitation event of 0.5 inches or greater.
  • Sediment deposits shall be properly disposed of when the deposits have accumulated to 1/2 the height of the ditch check.
  • Ditch checks shall be made of biodegradable materials (hay typically) or stone.  Normally, manufactured ditch checks, made of synthetic materials, are also acceptable.
  • Ditch checks shall be installed with the center of the check lower than the sides.
  • At minimum, ditch checks shall be placed at an interval of one check for every two feet of surface elevation drop.
  • Hay bale ditch checks shall be at least two bales wide and entrenched at least 4".
  • Silt fence and single rows of hay bales are not acceptable as ditch checks.
  • To prevent scour, channel erosion mat or other non-erodible materials shall be placed at the base of each ditch check and extended down slope a minimum of 6 feet from the check.
  Non-Channel Erosion Mat

Code References

  • "All disturbed ground left inactive for 10 or more days shall be stabilized by seeding or sodding, or by mulching or covering, or other equivalent control measure." (Reference: Section 290-7.2.e-3 of the City Code of Ordinances).
  • "If {soil or dirt storage piles are} remaining for more than 10 days, they shall be stabilized by mulching, vegetative cover, tarps, or other means." (Reference: Section 290-7.2.e-6 of the City Code of Ordinances).
  • "Slopes greater than or equal to 12% with a down slope length of 10 feet or more, are not considered stabilized with seeding and mulching unless used in conjunction with a tackifier, netting, or matting." (Reference: Section Comm 21.125(b) of the Wisconsin Administrative Code).

Quick Tips

  • Erosion mat shall be inspected weekly at minimum and within 24 hours after a precipitation event of 0.5 inches or greater.
  • Install more staples or more frequent anchor trenches if rilling under the mat is observed during inspections.
  • The type of erosion mat used shall conform to slope and slope length requirements of the Wisconsin Erosion Control Product Acceptability (PAL).  See the "Slope Erosion Control Matrix" (Figure 2) of the PAL for more details.
  • Non-channel erosion mat shall be used on erodible slopes only.  For areas where runoff channelizes, see "Channel Erosion Mat". 
  • The erosion mat shall be installed and anchored in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.
  • The erosion mat shall be installed after placing any topsoil, fertilizer, lime, or seed.
  • The erosion mat shall be maintained to keep complete and firm contact with the underlying soil.
  Sediment Basin

Code References

  • "For sites with more than 5 acres disturbed at one time, or if a channel originates in the disturbed area, one or more sedimentation basins shall be constructed." (Reference: Section 290-7.2.e-4 of the City Code of Ordinances).
  • "The basin discharge rate shall also be sufficiently low as to not cause erosion along the discharge channel or the receiving water." (Reference: Section 290-7.2.e-4 of the City Code of Ordinances).

Quick Tips

  • Sediment basins shall be inspected weekly at minimum and within 24 hours after a precipitation event of 0.5 inches or greater.
  • Sediment deposits shall be properly disposed of as needed to maintain a minimum three foot depth in the treatment surface area of the basin.
  • Sediment basins shall be constructed prior to the disturbance of up slope areas and placed where runoff from disturbed areas can be diverted during all phases of construction.
  • Sediment basins shall be sized to meet the criteria listed in WDNR Technical Standard 1064 (Sediment Basin). 
  • Earthen embankments constructed as parts of sediment basins shall be designed and constructed to address seepage and saturation.  Please refer to WDNR Technical Standard 1064 (Sediment Basin) for specific embankment design criteria.
  • Sediment basins shall have both primary and overflow outlets.  Please refer to WDNR Technical Standard 1064 (Sediment Basin) for specific outlet design criteria.
  • Sediment basin inlets shall be designed and constructed to prevent scour during peak flows.
  • Sediment basins shall be located with consideration given to access for sediment clean out.
  • In order to reduce earthmoving costs, sediment basins may be utilized as permanent wet detention basins to address post-construction storm water quality requirements.  At the end of the construction phase, all deposits must be removed from the sediment basin in order for it to be accepted as a wet detention basin. 
  Vegetative Buffers

Code References

  • "For sites with less than 5 acres disturbed at one time, filter fences, straw bales or equivalent control measures shall be placed along all side slope and down slope sides of the site." (Reference: Section 290-7.2.e-5 of the City Code of Ordinances).
  • "Perimeter erosion control measures shall be placed within 24 hours of beginning excavating." (Reference: Section Comm 21.125(1)(a) of the Wisconsin Administrative Code).
  • "Erosion control measures shall be placed along down slope areas and along side slope areas as required to prevent or reduce erosion where erosion during construction will result in a loss of soil to waters of the state, public sewer inlets or off-site." (Reference: Section Comm 21.125(1)(a) of the Wisconsin Administrative Code).

Quick Tips

  • Vegetative buffers shall be inspected weekly at minimum and within 24 hours after a precipitation event of 0.5 inches or greater.
  • If vegetative buffers become soil covered, contain rills, or are otherwise compromised, other perimeter sediment control measures shall be installed.
  • Buffers shall be maintained to have dense vegetation between 3 and 12 inches in height.
  • Vegetative buffers shall be used for sheet and rill erosion only.
  • Vegetative buffers shall be located on the contour and along the entire length of the down slope edge of the disturbed area.
  • The width of the vegetative buffer shall be a slope of no greater than 5%.
  • The disturbed area draining to the vegetative buffer shall have slopes of 6% or less.
  • The vegetative buffer shall have a minimum width of 25 feet.  25 feet of buffer is adequate for 125 feet of up slope disturbed area.  An additional 1 foot of buffer width shall be added for every added 5 feet of up slope disturbed area.

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Zeidler Municipal Building, 841 N. Broadway, Room 820, Milwaukee, WI 53202

Phone: 414-286-0515
Fax: 414-286-2010

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