5900 36TH AVE W 2025-01-06 - Laserfiche WebLink

SOIL EROSION Soil erosion on lots where active construction is occurring causes several environmental problems: • When topsoil erodes off residential lots, lawns need to be watered more frequently because of the loss of soil organic matter. ® Soil washed off lots and deposited in the street drains directly into the storm sewer system. Mud on the streets is a traffic hazard. Sediment clogs sewer pipes. Removing sediments from the street and sewers is expensive, and taxpayers ultimately pay the bill. • Storm sewer pipes drain into stormwater basins, wetlands, lakes, streams and rivers. Sediment causes turbid water conditions and contains phosphorus, a nutrient that contributes to water quality degradation. To reduce the effects of soil erosion, the following procedures should be utilized during the construction process: • Place soil stockpiles carefully. Stockpiles of soil (and construction materials) should not be placed in the street or within the "dripline" of a tree. Before you grade, you should think about where soil stockpiles will be placed. Silt fences should be placed around soil stockpiles as needed. Cover stockpiles with plastic, straw, hydroseed, or any cover that prevents erosion of the stockpile. Heavy equipment and vehicular traffic should not be allowed within the dripline of any tree to be saved because of damage to root systems. ® Restore the vegetation. The best erosion control measure on residential lots is vegetation. Your lot should be sodded or seeded and mulched as soon as possible. Place at least two or three rolls of sod along the curb and lot lines if vegetative restoration will be delayed. a Place gravel on your driveway as soon as possible. This helps to minimize the amount of mud tracked onto the street by construction vehicles. Traffic should be limited to the gravel area. Keep the streets clean. If mid or sediment ends up on the street, you should remove it immediately. If you don't keep the street clean, the Public Works inspector will issue a STO WORK ORDER that will stay in effect until the street is cleaned by sweeping methods. WASHING THE STREET IS NOT PERMISSIBLE. Install silt fences. Silt fence is a specially designed woven fabric that filters sediment from water flowing through the material. This fabric should be placed around stockpiles of soil from excavations. It should also be installed along lot lines when runoff from your lot drains onto an adjacent lot; along the street (installed behind the curb); and along wetlands, streams and lakes. CALL THE EVERETT PUBLIC SERVICES DIVISION (425) 257-8810 WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL PRACTICES.