ROADSIDE SEDIMENT CONTROL DEVICE EVALUATION PROGRAM: TECHNICAL REPORT

One of the problems facing designers/engineers in maintaining regulatory compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is the lack of quantifiable data to assist in selecting effective sediment control best management practices (BMPs). Although the two principles of erosion and sediment control are often used interchangeably, they are two separate issues and require different BMPs for mitigation. Erosion control is any practice that protects the soil surface and minimizes soil particle detachment by water or wind. Sediment control is any practice that traps the soil particles after detachment and transport. Typically, effective sediment control is more difficult and expensive than erosion control. While erosion can never be completely controlled, combining erosion and sediment control practices can significantly reduce sediment loss. To help ensure compliance, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) successfully evaluates the performance of erosion control materials and maintains an Approved Product List (APL). This project developed the formal protocol for a performance-based, sediment retention device testing program that will assist the designer/engineer in the selection of the most effective sediment control BMP. This project studied five temporary sediment control devices: geosynthetic dikes, wattles without coagulant, wattles with coagulant, silt fences, and rock check dams (riprap).