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Erosion and Sediment Control
Best Management Practices (BMPs)

EPA defines stormwater BMPs as "methods that have been determined to be the most effective, practical means of preventing or reducing pollution from nonpoint sources." There are many types of BMPs.? At construction sites, disturbed areas may include relatively flat areas as well as slopes

Typically, steep slopes and large exposed areas require the most robust erosion controls; flatter slopes and smaller areas still require protection, but less costly materials may be appropriate for these areas.? The key is matching the BMP solution to the stormwater problem.?

Below are various BMPs resources that may be helpful when developing your erosion and sediment control plan.

EPA Clarification (June 13, 2008) on which stormwater infiltration practices/technologies have the potential to be regulated as "Class V" wells by the Underground Injection Control Program.

Menu of BMPs
Site containing over 120 BMP fact sheets on all stormwater program areas

Menu of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Phase II
Contains more than 100 fact sheets detailing BMPs for each minimum control measures.

EPA’s Construction Site Runoff Control Menu of BMPs
Links to 39 fact sheets outlining various IDDE best management practices.

EPA has prepared a detailed guidance manual (Stormwater Management for Construction Activities: Developing Pollution Prevention Plans and Best Management Practices) that provides detailed guidance on the identification of best management practices (BMPs) for construction activities and development of storm water pollution prevention plans (SWPPP). It includes a set of worksheets, a checklist, and a sample SWPPP.

EPA Urban BMP Performance Tool
New web-based tool provides stormwater professionals with easy access to approximately 220 studies assessing the performance of over 275 stormwater post construction BMPs. The Tool provides access to studies covering a variety of traditional and low impact BMP types, including retention and detention ponds, biofilters, grassed filter strips, porous pavenment, wetlands, and others. Users will also find a series of essays aimed at improving understanding of BMP performance and the importance of volume reduction/infiltration in these assessments. EPA plans to add more studies to this Tool over the coming year, focusing on expanding the collection of studies of low impact development or green infrastructure BMPs.

California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA) [CASQA, Handbook]

The California Stormwater Best Management Practice Handbook provides guidance to the stormwater community.? Their handbook reflects current practices, standards, and a significant amount of knowledge gained since the early 90s about the effectiveness of BMPs.? Search the BMPs database by selecting constituent criteria or a keyword.

Field Manual on Sediment and Erosion Control Best Management Practices for Contractors and Inspectors [AGC, Book]
Field Manual is just that: an extremely practical book intended to be used out on the job site. Take it with you; you'll want a copy nearby whenever you're out in the field---and that means all the time! Based on decades of firsthand, on-the-site experience, Field Manual is written specifically for both contractors and inspectors---those of you doing the work and those of you checking on it! Packed with clear, easy-to-follow diagrams that show just what to look for in proper installation and maintenance, Field Manual is loaded with time-saving tips and techniques you can put to use right now that will help you get the job done right the first time. Item No: 5006, AGC member price: $39.95, Non-member price: $49.95

New Jersey Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual (April 2004) [NJDEP, Document]
The Stormwater Management rules, N.J.A.C. 7:8 specify stormwater management standards that are mandatory for new major development. The New Jersey Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual (BMP manual) is developed to provide guidance to address the standards in the proposed Stormwater Management Rules, N.J.A.C. 7:8. The BMP manual provides examples of ways to meet the standards contained in the rule. The methods referenced in the BMP manual are one way of achieving the standards. An applicant is welcome to demonstrate that other proposed management practices will also achieve the standards established in the rules. The BMP Manual is a developed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, in coordination with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, the New Jersey Department of Transportation, municipal engineers, county engineers, consulting firms, contractors, and environmental organizations.

North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources List of Stormwater BMP and Site Planning Manuals [NCDENR, Document]
This page contains downloadable Manuals, Permits, BMP's and Fact Sheets for Stormwater.

National Stormwater Best Management Practice Database [Urban Water Resources Research Council, Website]
This database provides access to BMP performance data in a standardized format for over 190 BMP studies conducted over the past fifteen years. The database may be searched and/or downloaded on this Web site, and is also available on CD-ROM. Additional BMP studies are currently being prepared for the database. The database was developed by the Urban Water Resources Research Council (UWRRC) of ASCE under a cooperative agreement with the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Associated General Contractors of America: Designing for Effective Sediment and Erosion Control on Construction Sites (AGC members: $59.95; non-members: $69.95) [AGC of America, Book]
This book provides contractors, developers, and designed with proven and practical methods for minimizing erosion and sedimentation on construction sites. It lists basic cost-effective steps for installing, maintaining and inspecting erosion and sediment controls to avoid fines and achieve regulatory compliance. This book also contains dozens of illustrated diagrams and planning tools that can be put to use immediately and identifies the limited practicality of certain best management practices. 2001

MCET: Environmentally Sound Practices in the Homebuilding Industry [Maryland Center for Environmental Training, Video]
You can order this video training package has been prepared for use by developers, homebuilders, architects and planners, and local government plan approval authorities to train their staffs in the basic principles of pollution prevention and environmental compliance for homebuilding projects. Topic areas include the environmental impacts of homebuilding, best management practices for habitat preservation and stormwater management, as well as best management practices for erosion and sediment control.

Kentucky Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control Field Guide [Tetra Tech, Website]
This Field Guide will take you through the erosion and sediment control process. The guide starts out with sections on pre-project planning and operational activities. The rest of the guide discusses erosion prevention and sediment control by starting at the top of the hill, above the project site, and proceeding down the slope through the bare soil area, ditches and channels, traps and basins, and on down to the waterways below.

Stormwater and the Construction Industry Poster - Great for construction sites of all sizes! You can print this poster on 11x17 paper. Side one [PDF Format] of this informative poster illustrates proper installation of common sediment and erosion control practices (best management practices). Side two [PDF Format] describes the process for developing and implementing a stormwater pollution prevention plan and obtaining permit coverage. The complete 30x40 poster [PDF Format] is also available. May be customized. Download the images used for this poster. EPA 833-H-03-001

Montana State University Stormwater Control Resources. Under an EPA funded grant, Montana State University has developed on-line tools to assist contractors in the installation, evaluation and enhancement of stormwater BMPs in the Northern Rocky Mountains. This resource includes The Graphic Guide – an animated and interactive tutorial covering the basics and critical points of stormwater BMPs and Resource Library – a searchable stormwater manual and index of annotated case study photos with captions.