Report Erosion & Sediment Problems!

Sediment in Our Waterways

Fine-grained sediments such as silt, clay and sand have the potential to dramatically affect water quality. These small particles can be suspended in the water, making it cloudy and muddy. Not only is this visually unappealing, it can negatively affect aquatic life. Suspended sediments can harm fish eggs, make it difficult for fish to breathe, reduce the amount of light available to stream beds and vegetation, and increase water temperature. Sediment transport by rivers is a natural process and important for carrying nutrients and replenishing sediment supplies to coastlines and estuaries, but sedimentation resulting from land-based human activities is unnatural. Human sources of sediment transport into waterways include construction sites, dirt roads, and even mud and dirt that collect on tires and vehicles which get deposited onto paved surfaces and carried away by stormwater. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to keep sediments stabilized and out of our waterways. Construction companies and others doing any type of land disturbing activity such as forestry or local public works service doing road repairs are required to implement practices that prevent sediment runoff from those work sites. However, violation of these requirements is common, and enforcement is often difficult. Enforcement often depends on reports from concerned citizens who notice their local waters have become filled with sediment, or who notice the erosion and sedimentation directly from a construction site. If you notice any of these issues, you can take some of the following actions.

What You Can Do

If you notice sediment or erosion issues on a construction site, report the issue to the project manager. All development projects are required to have project information on site, including the construction permit information and contact information for the company and project manager, and you as a citizen have the right to request that information. You can also report the issue to your local regulatory authority (SC DHEC) or your local stormwater hotline. Regulatory agencies are grateful for reports such as these, as it is difficult for them to maintain a constant presence in the field and identify all violations or sediment problems on their own. Remember that it is the company’s responsibility to implement sediment control measures, and lack of control means a negative impact on your water resources. For those concerned about reporting such activities, it is important to know that you have the right and responsibility as a citizen to report issues just as the companies have a responsibility to protect our waterways.

Best Management Practices to Prevent Erosion and Sedimentation

Two of the easiest and most common practices to prevent erosion and sedimentation from a construction site are the installation of siltation barriers and the maintenance of vegetation. These are useful for large construction sites and small, homeowner renovation or landscaping projects.

1-Silt Fences & Hay Bales: Silt fences come in many forms, but often look like long sheets of black plastic stretched between wooden or metal posts, and are designed to hold sediments behind them. When properly installed, they function well, but improper installation resulting in blow outs and sediment washing under or over them is common.

2-Vegetation, Seeding and Blankets: One of the best erosion prevention practices is the maintenance of vegetation, or rapid planting and seeding immediately following soil disturbance. The root systems of trees and vegetation are excellent sediment stabilizers and should be preserved when possible during construction. When vegetative disturbance cannot be avoided, plan ahead to install erosion control blankets and seed or plant the area as soon after disturbance as possible. There are many types of erosion control blankets that are made of straw, wood, coconut fiber, other biodegradable plastic fibers formed into a mat. These blankets or mats are available as large rolls that can easily be unrolled to cover the exposed sediment. Some are seeded and the mats themselves simply need to be watered to promote grass or vegetative sprouting. Others can be covered with mulch or compost and then seeded, and the mats simply help stabilize the ground until future planting occurs.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
To Report Erosion and Sediment Issues on local roadways, from construction sites, or in waterways:
Department of Health and Environmental Control
927 Shine Avenue Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
843.238.4528
Stormwater Hotlines
Georgetown County 843.545.3524
Horry County 843.381.8000
Myrtle Beach 843.918.2000
N. Myrtle Beach 843.280.5500
Conway 843.248.1730
Atlantic Beach 843.381.8000
Surfside Beach 843.913.6360
Briarcliffe Acres 843.381.8000
www.dnr.state.wi.us/runoff/stormwater/techstds.htm#Construction