Vegetative Practices for Erosion and Sedimentation Control

1. Vegetative Practices for Erosion and Sedimentation Control Level IA: Fundamentals Seminar Education and Training Certification Requirements for Persons Involved with Land Disturbing Activities Issued May 2009

2. Objective • Understand vegetative measures • Their role • How selected, installed, and maintained

3. Key Points • Excess soil erosion is not inevitable • A system of measures is needed • Vegetative measures provide many benefits • Site characteristics determine species selection • Establishment requires many components • Proper maintenance is required

4. Erosion and Sediment Control • Very important to all of us • All benefit if successful • If not done properly: • polluted streams • additional problems onsite and offsite • project delays • stop work orders • increased construction costs • $$$ for cleanup • additional time required to re-do measures

5. Erosion or Sediment Control? Soil Erosion Soil particles are detached and transported. • Occurs on all land • Greatest losses are from bare soil • Vegetative cover reduces soil loss Sedimentation Eroded soil is transported and deposited. • Sediment is #1 non-point source pollutant in U.S. • Structural measures trap sediment

6. Effective E&SC requires aSystem of Measures • One measure does not solve all of our erosion and sediment control problems • Vegetative, structural, andmaintenancemeasures are needed • Each has an important role • They complement and aid each other

7. Benefits of Vegetation in E&SC • Intercepts raindrops • Reduces detachment of soil particles • Results in less soil erosion • Slows runoff • Cleans runoff • Reduces runoff • Increases water infiltration • Increased soil moisture aids plant growth • Protects structures, rivers, streams, and ponds • Reduces maintenance of structural measures • Reduced deposition in sediment basins & other structures • Improves aesthetics, soil quality, and wildlife habitat

8. Construction Sites are inhospitable for vegetative growth • Topsoil is removed • Steep slopes • Low soil moisture • Low soil fertility • Acidic soils • Concentrated flow • Compacted soils Intensive treatment is needed. Pasture planting methods are not effective.

9. Vegetative Practices“Manual for Erosion and Sediment Control in Georgia” • Bf Buffer Zone • Cs Coastal Dune Stabilization • Ds1 Mulching Only • Ds2 Temporary Seeding • Ds3 Permanent Seeding • Ds4 Sodding • Du Dust Control • Mb Matting and Blankets • Pm Polyacrylamide • Sb Streambank Stabilization • Tb Tackifiers and Binders

10. Buffer Zone • Undisturbed or planted vegetative strip • General Buffer – surround sites • Vegetated Stream Buffer – border streams Bf • Filter sediment & other pollutants • Reduce runoff velocities • Stabilize stream banks • Provide flood protection • Improve fish & wildlife habitat • Reduce construction noise • Reduce wind erosion • Improve aesthetics

11. Buffer Specifications are Based on Site Conditions • Purpose • Topography • Watershed size • Stream size • Type of stream • Trout stream • Warm water stream • Maintenance

12. Cs Coastal Dune Stabilization (with Vegetation) • Planting vegetation on • denuded, constructed, • or re-nourished dunes • Permits (local/state/federal) • Sand fences • Fertilization • Planting with native species • Irrigation • Maintenance • Protection from traffic

13. New Sand Fence 1 Year Old Sand Fence Sand fences help build higher dunes by trapping sand.

14. Sea Oats Cordgrass Cross Walk

15. Ds1 Disturbed Area Stabilization (With Mulching Only) • Applying plant residues or other suitable materials to thedisturbed soil surface • Mulching without planting • Reduce runoff and erosion • Conserve moisture • Prevent surface compaction • Control undesirable vegetation • Modify soil temperature • Increase biological activity in the soil

16. Disturbed Area Stabilization (With Mulching Only) • On areas where vegetation has been removed and soil protection is needed • Temporary cover needed: • Final grading not complete • Area will be disturbed again • Not optimum season for vegetative establishment • Mulch is applied for seasonal protection • Large amounts of mulch are required • Application rates are much higher than for seeded areas

17. Per the “Manual for E&SC in Georgia” • Ds1 - Mulching Only • On exposed areasleft idle for 14 days • Apply at theappropriate depth • Must beanchored • Maintain cover on90% or moreof the soil surface • Can be used alone forup to 6 months

18. Pine Bark Cypress mulch Pine Straw Blanket

20. Disturbed Area Stabilization (With Temporary Seeding) Ds2 • Establishing fast growing vegetation for seasonal soil protection • Reduce soil erosion • Reduce runoff • Increase infiltration • Improve aesthetics • Improve soil quality • Improve wildlife habitat Browntop millet

21. Required Temporary Seeding • Rough graded areas • Diversions • Sides of temporary basins • Stockpiled soil • Temporary dams

22. Ds2 Temporary Seeding Components • grading & shaping • lime • fertilizer • seedbed preparation • proper plant selection • quality seed • proper planting techniques (rates/timing/depth) • mulch • irrigation

23. Per the “Manual for E&SC in Georgia” • Ds2 - Temporary Seeding • On all exposed areasleft idle for 14 days • Maintain cover on90% or moreof the soil surface • Can be used alone forup to 6 months • Permanent vegetation will be used if area is to beundisturbed formore than 6 months

24. Ds2 – Plant Selection • Germinate quickly • Adequate cover • Noncompetitive 90 % cover ?

25. Regional variations: Climate & Soils

26. Soils make a difference Tifton Cecil They vary across the state. They vary on a site.

27. Regional differences inthe “Manual” -approved species -rates -combinations -planting dates

28. Common Plants Used for Temporary Cover Warm season annualsCool season annuals -brown top millet -rye -pearl millet -ryegrass -sudan grass -wheat Warm season perennialsCool season perennial -common bermuda -tall fescue -weeping lovegrass

29. Disturbed Area Stabilization (with Permanent Vegetation) Ds3 Planting perennial vegetation (grasses, legumes, vines, shrubs, and trees) on exposed areas for: 1. Final permanent stabilization & 2. Rough graded sites for >6 months

30. Ds3 Permanent Vegetation Plans are based on soil and site conditions. • Site location • Soil characteristics • Topography • Concentrated water flow • Planned land use • Soil fertility • Soil pH

31. Ds3 Planned Components Grading and shaping Inoculants Liming Planting method Fertilization Seeding depth Seedbed preparation Mulch Species selection Anchoring mulch Seeding rates Irrigation Seeding dates Maintenance

32. Many Planting Methods are used

33. Seedbed Preparation • Provides good growing medium for roots • critical for good plant growth • a good root system is needed in order to have effective vegetative cover • Incorporates lime and fertilizer 4 to 6 inches in depth • Not normally needed for hydroseeding

34. Soil Tests and Nutrient Management • Determines soil acidity • Determines soil fertility • Provides ample nutrients for plants • Protects the environment by reducing nutrient losses

35. pH Scale Neutral 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 More AcidMoreBasic (10 fold difference in acidity from one number to the next)

36. Soil Acidity (or pH) • Greatly affects plant growth • Most Georgia soils are acidic • Most plants used need a soil pH of 6.0 - 6.5 • Apply 1 – 2 T/A of agricultural lime (CaC03) prior to or during establishment • Maintenance applications are also needed

37. Agricultural Lime • Does not move readily through the soil • Can be lost in runoff Conventional planting – apply immediately before seedbed preparation so it will be mixed into the soil Hydroseeding- apply after cover is present 1. after straw/hay mulch is applied, 2. with topdressing, or 3. with 2nd year fertilizer

38. Fertilization 1. Initial – immediately before or at planting 2. Topdressing – 6 to 8 weeks after planting 3. 2nd year – the year after planting 4. Maintenance – each year • Fertilize based on target species • Don’t “plant it and forget it”

39. Fertilizer content Q. What do the numbers mean? A. The fertilizer analysis

40. Fertilizer Analysis 5% Nitrogen 10% Phosphorous 15% Potassium This 50 LB bag contains 30% plant food (15 LB) and 70% filler.

41. Fertilizer Selection is based on needs of the target species For legumes Initial fertilizer Ammonium nitrate (N topdressing for grasses)

42. Fertilizer for Grasses TimingAnalysis First YearN, P, K TopdressingN Second Yr. N, P, K MaintenanceN, P, K

43. Fertilizer for Grass/Legume Mixtures TimingAnalysis First YearN, P, K TopdressingN Second Yr. P, K MaintenanceP, K • The desired species are legumes • Legumes get N from bacteria

45. Data in “Manual” and “Field Manual”

46. Consider Native Grasses • Well adapted • Extensive root system • Attractive • Excellent for wildlife • Low maintenance • Little bluestem • Broomsedge bluestem • Reed canary grass • Eastern gama grass • Big bluestem • Indian grass • Switchgrass • Virginia wildrye

47. Seeding Rates for a Quality Stand • Under-seeding reduces the stand • Over-seeding creates excessive demand for moisture, nutrients, light, and space More is not always better More seed will not overcome poor planting techniques

48. 1/ PLS = Pure Live Seed 2/ Seeding rate when seeded alone

49. Seed Label

50. Pure Live Seed (PLS) Calculations Step 1:Get information from the seed label:-tall fescue seed -95% purity -85% germination Step 2:Calculate the PLS value of the seed: PLS = 0.95 x 0.85 = 0.81 or 81% Step3:Calculate the seeding rate: 50 #/AC = 62 #/AC are needed 0.81