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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