Silt Fence

Silt Fence POLLUTANTS ADDRESSED: Nutrients and Organics, Sediments

DESCRIPTION: A silt fence is a porous plastic barrier installed to temporarily contain surface sediments on disturbed lands or construction sites. Water is allowed to flow through the fabric while sediments are trapped.

POTENTIAL TREATMENT AREAS: Agricultural Lands Developed Lands Lakes Areas

LOAD REDUCTION MECHANISM: Nutrients/Organics Management- Fabric traps sediments that can contain nutrients and organics.

ALTERNATIVE MANAGEMENT MEASURES: Sediment Barrier Straw Bale Barrier

Sediment Reduction – The silt fence prevents sediments from flowing to adjacent surface water bodies

PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS: None

LAND USE CLASSIFICATION: Construction sites Mining lands Urban lands ADDITIONAL BENEFITS: None

Arid Southwest BMP

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Silt Fence POLLUTANTS ADDRESSED: Nutrients and Organics, Sediments

Level 300: MILD ENGINEERING LOAD REDUCTION POTENTIAL: LOW

MEDIUM

PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION:

HIGH

1. Silt fences are installed perpendicular to overland water flow. In large areas fences are installed in series to slow the flow of water across disturbed lands. These fences should be considered temporary, installed to buy time for seeding or other revegetation practices to mature.

ESTIMATED TIME FOR LOAD REDUCTION: IMMEDIATE

MONTHS2 YEARS

> 2 YEARS

2. While the practice does not generally require regulatory permits, it is often a requirement in stream alteration permits to minimize pollutants during construction projects.

EXPECTED MAINTENANCE: LOW

MEDIUM

HIGH

ESTIMATED COST: LOW

MEDIUM

Arid Southwest BMP

Riparian Planting Zone: Upland Zone and Flood flows HIGH

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