Management Practices Effective erosion and sedimentation control consists of minimizing erosion by protecting the soil surface and preventing eroded soil from moving offsite. The following practices should be employed to minimize erosion and sedimentation problems. Schedule construction activities to minimize the exposed area and the duration of exposure, considering the season and the weather forecast. To reduce on-site erosion, install these measures before clearing and grading. Use temporary or permanent vegetation and mulches.
Vegetative cover is relatively inexpensive to achieve and tends to be self-healing.
It is often the only practical, long-term solution to stabilization and erosion control on most disturbed sites in North Carolina. Be aware that construction activities and erosion often expose infertile subsoil that requires fertilization. Planning from the start for vegetative stabilization reduces the cost, minimizes maintenance and repair, and makes structural erosion control measures more effective and less costly to maintain. Unavoidable sediment eroded during rainstorms must be trapped on site. Construct sediment traps and basins before other land-disturbing activities occur.