Carried by storm water to waterways, sediment can choke fish by clogging their gills and reduce the sunlight needed by tiny aquatic plants. On construction sites larger than five acres, Federal and state regulations require contractors to prepare and carry out a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan to reduce pollutants in stormwater discharges from construction activities. Federal regulations also require cities like San Jose, California to develop and implement stormwater pollutant controls. San Jose requires contractors developing construction sites less than five acres to use erosion control practices and requires an acceptable erosion plan before approving a grading permit. Contractors can prevent sediment from entering storm drains at construction sites by using hillside erosion controls like hydroseeding with straw mulch, erosion control blankets, and V-ditches for channeling water away from slopes.
Sedimentation ponds can serve as a secondary measure to collect runoff.
The city's Urban Structure Program encourages concentrated growth by levying higher charges for new development located outside core service areas. The program has gone into place smoothly, says USP coordinator David Ledbetter, because the city based the system's fees on rigorous analysis and involved developers and others affected by the fees in planning the program. For more information, call David Ledbetter, 805.723.6000. Providing objective research, information and solutions. Washington State University Cooperative Extension Energy Program in Olympia, Washington.