Soil
Erosion is a Costly Problem
Eroding
construction sites are a leading cause of water quality problems
in Clinton County. For every acre under construction, about
a dump truck and a half of soil washes into a nearby lake or county
drain unless the builder uses erosion controls. The result
of unchecked sedimentation includes:
Higher
Taxes
Cleaning
up sediment in streets, sewers, and ditches adds extra costs to
local government budgets.
Poor
Fishing
Muddy
water diminishes quality fishery.
Nuisance
Growth of Weeds and Algae
Sediment
carries fertilizers that fuel algae and weed growth in our streams,
ponds, and lakes.
Dredging
Taxpayers
pay for the expense of dredging sediment from lakes, rivers, and
drains.
Controlling
Erosion is Easy
Erosion
control is important even for home sites of an acre or less.
Only a few controls are needed on most sites:
-
Preserve
existing trees and grasses
where possible to prevent erosion;
-
Re-vegetate
the site as soon as possible;
-
Install silt fence
to trap
sediment on the down slope sides of the lot;
-
Locate soil piles
away
from any roads or waterways
-
Limit access
to a properly prepared drive to limit tracking of mud onto
streets;
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