Road Drainage Design Manual Chapter 5: Erosion and Sediment Control

Chapter 5

Erosion and
Sediment Control

July 2002 i
 Road Drainage Design Manual Chapter 5: Erosion and Sediment Control

Manual Contents

Chapter 1
Overview

5 Chapter 2
Site Assessment

Chapter 3
Hydrology and Design Criteria

Chapter 4
Design

Chapter 5
Erosion and Sediment Control

Chapter 6
Maintenance and Remediation

Chapter 7
Worked Examples

Chapter 8
References

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Road Drainage Design Manual Chapter 5: Erosion and Sediment Control

Table of Contents

5.1 Introduction 5-1

5.2 Erosion and Sedimentation 5-1

5.3 Erosion and Sediment Control Plans 5-2

5.3.1
5.3.2
An ESCP Overview
Benefits
5-2
5-2
5
5.3.3 Timing and Acceptance 5-2
5.3.4 ESCP 5-4

5.4 Preparing ESCPs 5-4

5.4.1 Step 1 - Review Site Characteristics 5-5
5.4.2 Step 2 - Identify Areas of Construction Disturbance 5-5
5.4.3 Step 3 - Selection of Controls 5-6

5.5 Design of Control Measures 5-9

5.6 Installation of Control Measures 5-9

5.7 Maintenance of Control Measures 5-11

5.8 Removing Control Measures 5-11

5.9 Monitoring, Auditing and Reporting ESC 5-12

5.10 Revegetation 5-12

5.11 Design References 5-12

Appendix 5A: ESC Fact Sheets Index 5-13

Appendix 5B: Revegetation Guidelines 5-67

Appendix 5C: Site Inspection Checklist 5-87

Appendix 5D: ESCP Checklist 5-91

Appendix 5E: Principles for Erosion and Sediment Control

during Construction 5-97

Appendix 5F: Example ESCP 5-101

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 Road Drainage Design Manual Chapter 5: Erosion and Sediment Control

5
Chapter 4
Design
Chapter 6
Maintenance &
Remediation

Introduction
Revegetation

Removing Control Erosion and Sedimentation

Measures

Maintenance of Control
Measures
Chapter 5 Erosion and Sediment
Control Plans
• Benefits
EROSION AND • Timing
• Report
Installation of Control SEDIMENT CONTROL • Drawings
Measures
• Monitoring

Design of Control
Measures
Preparing ESCPs
• Site Characteristics
• Areas of Disturbance
• Control Selection

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Road Drainage Design Manual Chapter 5: Erosion and Sediment Control

Chapter 5
Erosion and Sediment
Control
5.1 Introduction 5.2 Erosion and

Chapter 5 is designed to assist contractors (and
those working with contractors) in managing
drainage and preventing erosion and
sedimentation whilst undertaking road or drainage
works. This is achieved by preparing and
implementing Erosion and Sediment Control
Plans (ESCP).
In preparing erosion and sediment control plans or
undertaking construction activities, legislative
approvals relating to erosion and sediment control
(ESC) may be required. These may include
permits for undertaking works in watercourses,
taking of water from a watercourse or removing
vegetation from a watercourse. These legislative
requirements are outlined in Section 1.3 and
are further detailed in the Environmental
Legislation Register (Main Roads, 2001).
Chapter 5 can be applied to the preparation of
ESCPs for either construction or maintenance
works.
5
Sedimentation
Construction of road drainage infrastructure has
the potential to cause environmental harm if not
properly managed. One of the most common
environmental impacts of drainage construction is
the erosion of soil and subsequent sedimentation
of watercourses or drainage infrastructure.
The loss of soil from a construction site can also
be costly in terms of remediation and replacement
costs. Removal of deposited sediment will often
incur high costs.
Sediment deposition and suspension within water
courses has direct impacts on water quality and
aquatic wildlife. This could include fauna
mortality, habitat damage and disturbance to
breeding patterns. Soil loss can also have impacts
on adjacent properties such as farms and urban
residential properties.

The process outlined in this chapter relies heavily

on the site assessment process undertaken in
Chapter 2.

The philosophy for Chapter 5 of the Manual

is that site data from Chapter 2 and concept
measures from Chapter 3 should be used to
identify and implement the most suitable
temporary drainage, erosion and sediment
control measures to minimise potential
environmental harm and asset loss during
construction. It is important that the
philosophy of catering for drainage and
preventing erosion is adopted ahead of
providing sediment controls. That is,
sediment controls should be adopted only
when drainage and erosion controls will not
be sufficient.

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 Road Drainage Design Manual
5.3 Erosion and Sediment
Control Plans
5.3.1 An ESCP Overview
Erosion and Sediment Control Plans (ESCPs)
detail how the potential impacts of erosion and
sedimentation will be managed for a project.
5
ESCPs are dynamic or ‘living’ documents that
should change with each stage of a project. They
should be reviewed and modified regularly such
as when new information and products become
available, construction procedures change or
when there is a change in resource availability.
The Main Roads Standard Specification
MRS11.51 “Environmental Management”
requires a contractor to take all reasonable
precautions to prevent soil erosion from any lands
used or occupied. It then requires the contractor to
submit an ESCP seven (7) days prior to land
disturbance.
ESCPs will vary in content and detail depending
on the scale of works and the physical
characteristics of the project site. The other major
determining factor is the project budget and the
5-2
Chapter 5: Erosion and Sediment Control
allocation of resources to ESC.
Regardless of the ESC budget, a number of
fundamental ESC principles need to be applied
whilst preparing and implementing the ESCP.
These are further described in Section 5.4.
5.3.2 Benefits
ESCPs offer a number of benefits, including:
• providing a systematic approach to ESC;
• providing subcontractors (who read or use the
ESCP) with an understanding of ESC
requirements;
• providing cost effective methods and timing for
ESC;
• the ability to reduce downtime associated with
wet weather, clean-up costs and delays in
project completion;
• reducing off-site impacts (eg. social,
environmental and economic impacts); and
• demonstrating compliance with relevant
legislation and contract documentation and
therefore providing an aid for auditing,
monitoring and maintaining site performance in
relation to ESC.
5.3.3 Timing and Acceptance
The ESCP is a requirement of the Contract
documentation and a hold point in MRS11.51.
ESCPs are prepared by the Contractor as part of
the EMP (Construction) which is submitted to the
Project Superintendent for acceptance following
the award of contract.
The timing for ESCP preparation and approval is
provided in Figure 5.1. The actual number of
days will be determined during detailed design
and should be specified in the contract.
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Road Drainage Design Manual Chapter 5: Erosion and Sediment Control

Tender documents
issued
5
Contractor
submits tender

Contract
Award

ESCP Contractor submits

(7 days prior to EMP(Construction)
site disturbance) (typically 28 days from
HOLD POINT award of contract)

14
DAYS
Project Superintendent notifies
acceptance or otherwise of
EMP & ESCP
7
ACCEPTANCE NON-ACCEPTANCE
DAYS

Commence Revised Contractors’ EMP

construction (Construction) &/or ESCP

Figure 5.1 EMP (Construction) and ESCP Acceptance Process

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 Road Drainage Design Manual Chapter 5: Erosion and Sediment Control

5.3.4 ESCP advance of, or in conjunction with, clearing

All ESCPs should contain drawings as a
minimum requirement (ie. some projects may
not need an ESCP Report). ESCPs may contain
the following information:
Site Characteristics
• Catchment Description;
and grubbing operations;
(d) An order of works based upon construction
and stabilisation of all culverts and surface
drainage works at the earliest practical
stage;
(e) Proposed time schedules for construction of
structures and implementation of permanent

5 • Topography;
• Soils;
and temporary measures to control erosion
and sedimentation; and

• Hydrology; (f) Relevant construction/ maintenance/

removal notes;
• Vegetation;
• Water Quality. These drawings should be attached as Appendix A
of the ESCP report or used as the ESCP if no
Selection of Control Measures report is required. Each drawing should also
contain the following items:
Design, Installation, Maintenance and Removal
of Control Measures • Drainage paths;

Monitoring, Auditing and Reporting • Vegetation;

Appendices
• ESCP Drawings;
• Fact Sheets for ESC measures;
• Calculations (eg. hydrology or sediment basin
sizing);
• ESCP Checklist;
• Supporting Data (aerial photos, construction
program, EMP requirements, revegetation
specification).
A Document Control Status and Revision No.
must also be inserted in the front of the ESCP
report.
In accordance with MRS 11.51, the ESCP shall
consist of scale diagrams indicating the following:
(a) Features of the site including contours and
drainage paths;
(b) Relevant construction details of all erosion
and sediment control structures;
(c) All permanent and temporary erosion and
sediment control measures, including the
control measures to be implemented in
• Stockpiles;
• Receiving waterways;
• North Point;
• Scale (preferred scale between 1:500 to
1:2,500);
• Title Block (should include Project Name,
ESCP Title, Plan No., Date, Chainage); and
• Legend (should include standard symbols for
control measures).
5.4 Preparing ESCPs
The ESCP is written by the Contractor (or
Consultant) for the Contractor. It is the
Contractor's commitment to erosion and sediment
control for the project. As such, it needs to be
prepared in a format and to a level that can be
easily understood and implemented by the
Contractor’s staff.
A number of steps are generally followed when
preparing ESCPs, as described in the following
sections. The steps have been ordered in a logical

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Road Drainage Design Manual
way such that an understanding of ESC
requirements is obtained up front. This will also
ensure relevant information is reviewed prior to
the selection and installation of appropriate
control measures, and the selection of monitoring
and maintenance procedures.
The following references are provided to assist
with preparing an ESCP. These are:
• Appendix 5A - Fact Sheets for designing,
constructing and maintaining control measures;
• Appendix 5B - Revegetation Guidelines;
• Appendix 5C - ESC Site Inspection Checklist;
• Appendix 5D - ESCP Checklist;
• Appendix 5E - Construction Principles; and
• Appendix 5F - Example ESCP.
Preparation of an ESCP will also require a review
of the data obtained using Chapter 2, and
reference to general principles for drainage,
erosion and sediment control, and revegetation
should be incorporated into the ESCP.
Typically, an ESCP may comprise both drawings
and a report. This will depend on the allocated
ESC budget. An example structure of an ESCP is
given in Clause 5.3.4.
5.4.1 Step 1 - Review Site
Characteristics
Step 1 in preparing an ESCP is to obtain an
understanding of the site’s physical features. This
involves identifying physical constraints and
construction opportunities. A thorough
understanding of the proposed changes to the site
is also required to enable effective planning and
design of appropriate temporary ESC measures.
Much of the required information for Step 1 will
have been obtained from the processes undertaken
using Chapters 2 and 3 of this manual. Relevant
information will also be available from the project
Review of Environmental Factors (REF). The
EMP (Planning) may also be a key source of
information relevant to mitigation measures to
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Chapter 5: Erosion and Sediment Control
reduce potential ESC impacts of the project.
Relevant information must be provided in the
contract documents.
Existing site characteristics should be presented
on an overlay of the construction plans.
Step 1
If applicable, ensure the following items are
5
marked on an overlay of the construction
drawings:
1. existing and proposed permanent drainage
structures;
2. limits of site (from Contract Documents);
3. contours (from Contract Documents, REF or
site assessment data);
4. catchment boundaries, watercourses, drainage
lines and waterbodies within and adjacent to
the site (from site data and REF);
5. existing vegetation (obtained from REF);
6. soil types and properties (from REF and using
Chapter 2);
7. special conditions (refer Chapter 3); and
8. erosion risk zones (refer Chapter 2).
If an ESCP report is being prepared, the above
information can be documented in the Site
Characteristics section of the ESCP report. This
may include important information which cannot
be readily mapped.
5.4.2 Step 2 - Identify Areas of
Construction Disturbance
The overlay in Step 1 should depict the major
physical characteristics of the site which may
affect or be affected by erosion and sedimentation.
The purpose of Step 2 is to obtain an
understanding of what land changes may result
from construction. An overlay may be prepared
that contains relevant construction information
such as staging, locations for stockpiles,
compounds and access tracks including ancillary
5-5
 Road Drainage Design Manual
activities.
When this information is overlaid on the
construction drawings and site characteristics
overlay, it should be possible to visualise how and
where construction works may lead to erosion and
sedimentation.
Step 2
5
If applicable, ensure the following items are
marked on an overlay of the construction
drawings:
1. cut and fill locations;
2. construction stages; and
3. location of site access points, parking areas, site
compounds, storage areas, and stockpile areas.
5.4.3 Step 3 - Selection of
Controls
Steps 1 and 2 have involved collation of the
following information:
• construction plans (including details of cross
and longitudinal drainage);
• environmental information overlay (eg. soils,
vegetation, water courses);
• construction information overlay (eg. timing of
stages); and
• Contract Documents.
Step 3 involves using the above information to
assist in the selection of appropriate control
measures for the project. Use should also be made
of the ESC selection tables from Chapter 3.
Selected measures should be marked on
construction drawings that are suitable for use in
the field. Standard symbols for control measures
are contained in standard drawings and should be
used where practicable. If the project involves
staging, standard symbols will need to be marked
on the construction drawings for each stage.
The following factors should be considered prior
to selecting ESC measures:
• constraints and opportunities;
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Chapter 5: Erosion and Sediment Control
• potential for environmental harm;
• the preferred order of controls (i.e. drainage,
velocity, erosion, sedimentation).
These are discussed further below.
Constraints and Opportunities
The Contractor should identify ESC constraints
and opportunities appropriate to the project. This
may include consideration of:
• available resources (eg. surplus rock, access for
hydromulching);
• topography (eg. opportunities to divert water);
• receiving waterways;
• budget; and
• timing of construction.
The duration of construction and the life of
control measures must be considered in addition
to the availability of measures.
One of the key criteria to be considered when
selecting ESC measures is the timing of
construction. Where construction is scheduled to
occur during peak rainfall months, the potential
for erosion will be at a maximum. Hence, it will
be necessary to:
1. commit a higher budget to ESC, and
2. minimise the time of exposure of any part of
the site, and/or
3. reschedule construction.
Potential for Environmental Harm
The Contractor should identify the activities
likely to cause most environmental harm, the
areas at most risk, and the extent of potential
impacts. The project REF will assist in providing
such information. For example, disturbance to an
area of dispersive soil upstream of a sensitive
watercourse would be a high risk activity.
Such activities/areas/impacts should be given
highest priority in terms of ESC. This will ensure
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Road Drainage Design Manual Chapter 5: Erosion and Sediment Control

that most effort is given to the areas likely to Table 5.1 Measures for Drainage Control
cause most environmental harm.
Practice Velocity Application
Range
Drainage Controls Diversion Low - Diversion of flow
Banks Medium away from
Drainage paths where stormwater enters the site disturbed areas.
will have been identified and mapped on the Diversion Medium Large drainage
Channel/Drain areas.
overlay during Step 1. This information should be
Chutes High Passage of flow
used to select and locate appropriate drainage

5
down steep slopes or
controls. embankments.
Drop Pipes High Conveyance of flow
Where practicable, overland drainage flow should down long or irregular
be intercepted and conveyed around or through grades.
the site without flowing across disturbed areas. Grass-lined Low - Alternative to
Channels Medium hard channel linings
Use of existing stable flow paths (ie. watercourses in urban environment.
or drains) is preferable, however in the absence of Reinforced Medium - Alternative to
these, it will be necessary to: Grass-lined High hard channel linings
Channels in urban environment.
(a) construct temporary drains or watercourses; Geotextile Medium - Areas requiring
Lined Channels High quick establishment.
or
Rock Lined Medium Temporary and
(b) construct permanent waterways prior to the Channels permanent channels.
commencement of other works. Rock Mattress High/ Areas with turbulent
Channels Turbulent flow or high velocity.
Can be used as a
permanent measure.
Channels with High Protection against
impervious linings high velocity
Straw Low Only for short term or
Bales emergency protection
during storm events
Temporary Low - High Most types of
Watercourse watercourses
Crossings subject to
environmental
imapcts.

Measures available to control drainage are
outlined in Table 5.1, whilst detailed Fact Sheets
for most types of ESC are provided as Appendix
5A.
Velocity Controls
The quantity of soil eroded is generally
proportional to soil erosivity and the velocity and
duration of runoff. That is, the longer runoff
occurs for, the lower the acceptable velocty is, and
the greater the potential for soil erosion.

Reducing flow velocity is thus a key method for

minimising the potential for soil erosion and
subsequent sedimentation.

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 Road Drainage Design Manual
5
Sand bag check dam
Areas within the site likely to be subject to erosive
flow velocities should be identified and
appropriate control measures selected.
Measures available for velocity control are
outlined in Table 5.2. Most rely on roughening the
flow surface or decreasing the longitudinal
gradient of the flow path.
Detailed Fact Sheets of ESCs are provided in
Appendix 5A.
Table 5.2 Measures for Velocity Reduction
Practice Application
Check Dams
• Rock Act as a physical
• Recessed Rock barrier and reduce
• Gravel/Sand Bag gradient through ponding.
Drop Structures Can be created using rock,
timber or geotextile. Reduce
gradient of channel, but
require stabilisation at base
of drop.
Lengthen Flowpath Where sufficient room exists,
velocities may be reduced
through lengthening of the
flowpath. This may be
achieved using bunds or
baffles.
Increase Roughness Increase roughness through
of Flowpath vegetation, gravel or other
barriers to shallow flow.
However, this will not always
be cost effective, and
calculations will be required
to ensure roughness
treatment remains in place
during flow.
5-8
Chapter 5: Erosion and Sediment Control
Erosion Controls
Erosion control practices can protect exposed soil
or reduce the duration of soil exposure.
A review of the soils data mapped in Step 1 will
help identify those areas currently disturbed. Step
2 identified areas of the site that are planned for
disturbance (ie. areas of cut and fill).
Knowledge of soil types and risk ratings is very
important in the selection of erosion control
measures. For example, sodic soils are highly
erosive and will readily mobilise if not protected.
Hence, best practice requires that disturbance to
these soils is minimised and a high degree of
protection be provided. This will reduce the
potential for sediment mobilisation and deposition
in watercourses and drainage lines.
Measures for controlling erosion are outlined in
Table 5.3. These practices are the most common
for road projects in Queensland. A combination of
these control measures and those used to control
flow velocity can increase effectiveness.
Table 5.3 Measures for Erosion Control
Practice Application
Chemical Surface Dust control on large areas
Stabilisers such as haul roads and
access tracks. Some products
can be used as an alternative
to erosion control blankets.
Erosion Control Protection against raindrop
Blankets erosion and sheet flow down
batters.
Mulching Protection against raindrop
- timber erosion in conjunction with
- rock revegetation.
- straw
- hydro
- bitumen emulsion
Erosion Control Used to line channels where
Mats/Geotextiles medium to high velocities are
expected.
Outlet Protection Control of erosion at outlets.
Reduces velocity and
dissipates energy.
Temporary Disturbed, cleared or graded
Revegetation areas and stockpiles.
(refer Appendix 5B) Provides surface protection
and soil stability.
Surface Roughening Increases surface infiltration,
minimises rutting and reduces
wind erosion.
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Road Drainage Design Manual Chapter 5: Erosion and Sediment Control

Note: Detailed Fact Sheets of ESCs are provided in

Appendix 5A.

Sediment Trapping Controls

Sediment is only exported when erosion occurs

with the most efficient form of sediment control
being the prevention of erosion. Hence, sediment

5
controls are selected only after first choosing
effective drainage, velocity and erosion controls.

When soil is eroded, sediment particles are

suspended in runoff and are subject to movement In addition, the techniques shown in Tables 5.5
and deposition. Sediment deposition can have and 5.6 may be used for de-watering and in-
significant impacts on drainage systems and stream sediment control.
aquatic wildlife. Loss of soil and land degradation
are also of concern, as is the cost of cleaning out
drainage structures or clearways. 5.5 Design of Control
Measures
Measures available for sediment control are
outlined in Table 5.4. Some control measures, such as temporary
sediment basins require formal design. Whilst
Table 5.4 Measures for Sedimentation Control ESC measures will not always require formal
design, relevant factors which need to be
Practice Application considered are provided in the Fact Sheets in
Buffer Zones Filtering and trapping of sediment Appendix 5A.
runoff in areas of sheet flow. Most
effective on sandy soils.
Much of the information required to undertake
Grassed Filter Filtering and trapping of sediment
Strips from sheet runoff. Most effective on
formal design will have already been undertaken
sandy soils. when applying earlier Chapters of the manual. For
Construction Removal and trapping of sediment example, estimates of rainfall and runoff needed
Exits from vehicles leaving site. for sizing measures such as diversion banks and
Sediment Used to reduce velocity and pond culvert outlet dissipaters will have been calculated
Fences runoff to promote settlement of
in Chapters 2, 3 and 4. This may reduce the need
entrained sediment. Not to be used
in concentrated flow paths. for additional calculations.
Rock Sediment Placed in gullies and other flow
Trap paths to trap entrained sediment.
Use to form small sediment ponds.
Sediment Used to pond water and settle
5.6 Installation of Control
Basins sediment-laden runoff. Measures
Sediment Weirs Used to intercept concentrated flow,
reduce gully erosion and trap The installation of control measures should be
sediment.
coordinated with the projects’ construction works.
Portable Used in small areas where space for
Sediment sediment basins is limited. Measures should be installed prior to and during
Tanks Used in combination with chemical clearing and grubbing, topsoil stripping and
dosing. stockpiling, installation of access tracks and
Drop Inlet and Used to trap entrained sediment compounds, and cut and fill operations.
Pipe Inlet prior to entering drain
Protection inlet.
General principles for construction site
Note: Detailed Fact Sheets of ESCs are provided in management are provided in Chapter 1. These
Appendix 5A.

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 Road Drainage Design Manual Chapter 5: Erosion and Sediment Control

Table 5.5 De-watering Sediment Control Techniques

Practice Description Application

Filter bag Large reinforced, non-woven, geotextile fitter
bags attached to the end of a hose or pump
Filter pond An enclosed sediment trap into which
sediment-laden water is pumped. Sediment
is filtered from the water as it passes through
the side walls of the trap. The side walls may
Only suitable for low to medium flow
rates depending on the sediment
content of the water and the total
surface area of the filter.
Only suitable for low to medium
flow rates depending on the sediment
content of the water and the total
surface area of the filter.

5
formed from many of the filter mediums used
in the design of field or drop inlet sediment
traps, such as:
(i) sediment fence
(ii) sediment fence internally lined with straw
bales
(iii) sediment fence internally lined with
aggregate-filled sand bags
(iv) rock and aggregate (rock filter dam)
(v) block and aggregate
Portable The tanks usually contain one or more Tanks may be sized according to the
sediment compartments that trap sediment and allow the stilling pondde sign rules, with due
tanks chemical dosing. consideration given to the soil type
and expected flow rate.
Stilling ponds Typically a temporary above-ground pond The primary action is that of
formed by an earth embankment, however it gravitational settlement of the
can be below ground effectively making it a sediment, thus these ponds are
sediment basin. The low-flow outlet system usually significantly larger than
may consist of a rock filter dam, otherwise it Filter Ponds. They are normally
may have no formallow-flow outlet system used for long-term or high-flow
other than de-watering via a pump. de-watering jobs.

Table 5.6 In-Stream Sediment Control Techniques

Practice Description
Floating Silt Geotextile filter fabric (silt curtain} suspended vertically in a water body between contaminated
Curtain and uncontaminated water.
Rock Filter Dam A rock dam constructed across a drainage channel or small watercourse. The dam is formed
primarily from coarse rock with a filter layer on the upstream face. The upstream filter layer
may consist of geotextile filter cloth or a layer of clean agregate.
Sediment Filter Filter cages consist of a prefabricated wire cage anchored to the bed of a channel and filled
Cage with filter material such as straw bales. An earth bank or sandbags are used to each side of the
cage to prevent flow bypassing the filter. Woven sediment fence fabric is placed along the
upstream face of the cage.
Sediment Weir Sediment weirs are formed by constructing two or more parallel wire mesh fences across the
channel, lining the fences with fabric, then placing a filter medium between the fences. An
aggregate filter dam may be placed immediately upstream of the weir. Alternatively, woven
sediment fabric may be placed on the upstream fence to reduce the potential for sediment
blockage of the filter medium. Gravel bags partially filled with gypsum and agregate may be
placed upstream of the weir to assist in turbidity control.
Silt Sock A long geotextile filter tube sealed at the downstream end and connected to a solid open pipe
at the upstream end. The solid pipe is installed through a low-permeability earth or aggregate
weir placed across the stream bed. Sediment-Iaden low-flows are directed into the open end of
the pipe and through the geotextile filter which is simply placed along the bed of the channel
downstream of the weir.
Staked Sediment A standard sediment fence staked across the channel. Woven or non-woven fabric may be
Fence used depending on the expected stream flow and duration of use. A wire mesh backing is
normally placed behind the fabric to provide additional support.

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Road Drainage Design Manual
assist in planning construction activities and
deciding when particular control measures should
be installed.
5.7 Maintenance of Control
Measures
Regular maintenance of drainage, erosion and
sediment controls is as important as correct
installation. The ESCP report or drawings should
therefore document proposed maintenance
activities for each control measure selected.
Requirements for self-auditing the effectiveness
of measures and compliance with the ESCP
should also be documented. This should include
details of the frequency of all maintenance and
auditing activities.
For maintenance of ESCs during construction, the
defects liability period and the “on-maintenance”
phase, there are two basic requirements. These are
outlined below.
Regular Clean-Out
The frequency of maintaining and/or replacing
control measures should be based on the type of
measure, type of soil, and expected runoff
characteristics. The accessibility of a control
measure after a rainfall event must also be taken
into account when determining the frequency of
cleaning and hence the required size of the
control. As a general rule, control measures
should be cleaned out when 60% full.
The sediment removed from control measures
should be properly disposed of in accordance with
the Contract requirements. These should also state
the location for sediment disposal. Removed
sediment must be prevented from returning to the
ESC device or to other drainage lines or
watercourses during subsequent rain events.
Repair and Replacement
The second key maintenance requirement
includes the repair and replacement of
deteriorated materials within the control measure
(eg. sediment fence fabrics). Controls that are
continually damaged may indicate the need for
July 2002
Chapter 5: Erosion and Sediment Control
additional or alternative controls. If a control
measure is to be replaced, its replacement should
be chosen based on the compatibility of the
objectives outlined in the EMP (Construction).
Better control of site access and sound
management practices can minimise the need for
repair and replacement.
All temporary control measures should be
inspected and maintained where necessary
immediately after a rainfall event. Areas adjacent
to creeks and drainage paths should have priority
5
with respect to inspection and protection followed
by devices protecting stormwater inlets.
An example ESC maintenance table is provided
as Table 2 in Appendix 5F.
5.8 Removing Control
Measures
All temporary control measures should be
removed after the site is stabilised. This should
generally be specified in the contract. In addition,
any specific requirements for removing control
measures should be documented in the ESCP
report or on the ESCP drawings. Generic
guidelines are provided below:
• check for evidence of erosion prior to removal
to ensure erosion will not be increased through
the removal of control measures;
• remove and dispose of any deposited sediment
in an appropriate manner;
• clean and store ESC materials where
practicable for re-use on other projects;
• dispose of waste materials from control
measures (ie. damaged sediment fence fabric)
in nominated waste disposal areas;
• ensure that any machinery used to remove
control measures does not cause excessive
ground disturbance; and
• ensure any revegetation of the area has
stabilised prior to ESC removal.
5-11
 Road Drainage Design Manual Chapter 5: Erosion and Sediment Control

Where it is evident that a temporary control should 5.10 Revegetation

not be removed, then the contractor will need to
seek direction from the superindendant. Vegetation is one of the most effective means of
controlling erosion and subsequent sedimentation.
The link between a Revegetation Plan and a ESCP
5.9 Monitoring, Auditing is therefore frequently critical.
and Reporting ESC
Monitoring, auditing and reporting of ESCP

5 implementation is a requirement of the MRS11.51

- Environmental Management. This is part of
Main Roads environmental reporting
responsibilities under the Environmental
Protection Act to notify of actual or potential
environmental harm.

All ESCs are to be inspected weekly and within

24 hours of a rain event or as often as specified in
the Contract specifications. All defects are to be
rectified as soon as practicable and within 7 days
of detection. A generic ESC Site Inspection Revegetation guidelines are provided in Appendix
Checklist is contained in Appendix 5C. This can 5C to assist in selecting appropriate revegetation
be adapted to site specific project conditions and techniques for erosion and sediment control and
the project ESCP. to provide a higher level of understanding to the
The Contractor shall record all non-conformances ESCP author.
on the Site Inspection Checklist. Where a non-
conformance is repeated, the Contractor shall
advise the Superintendent and provide a copy of 5.11 Design References
the relevant non-conformance reports.
Additional design information may be obtained
All monitoring details and Site Inspection from NSW Department of Housing (1998),
Checklists shall be reported in the Monthly Frankcombe et al. (2001).
Environment Report. This shall be submitted to
the Superintendent no later than 7 days after the
end of the month.

The Contractor is also required to establish a

process of auditing the performance of the ESCP.
Such audits must be undertaken by suitably
qualified and experienced personnel. Details of
the audit process (ie. audit frequency, audit
criteria, and Auditor’s details) should be
documented in the EMP.

The ESCP should be reviewed monthly in light of

non-conformances and construction progress.
Revised copies of the ESCP shall be issued to the
Superintendent for acceptance.

5-12 July 2002