Stabilize and revegetate exposed areas. Vegetate ditches, culvert inlets and outlets and roadside banks or, where ditches are on steep slopes, line with crushed rock. Divert as much runoff as possible away from surface water. Discharge ditch water into vegetated areas as much as possible. A wooded area with a natural duff layer will filter sediment out of runoff best, and prevents turbid water from reaching streams or lakes.
Good maintenance saves money.
One needs to spend a little to save a lot. Good road maintenance is not just a job for the road crews. Susan Warren is an aquatic biologist with the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources.