Erosion Control - Other

Definition of  ‘Erosion’  -  The movement of a particle of soil which is started by the action of water or wind.

Manmade erosion caused by construction activities is a significant percentage of all erosion in the United States today.  The other major pollution source is caused by the agriculture industry.

The erosion control industry has been driven primarily by government regulations since the early 1970s.  These regulations have been significantly modified, and in March 2003 the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II regulations will take effect.  The result of these regulations is any construction project which disturbs more than one acre of ground will have to comply with the state and county general permit for Storm Water Pollution Prevention (SWPP).

The SWPP requirement in most cases will require a permit, a plan, and implementation of a sediment and erosion control plan for the construction site.  Further, all Best Management Practices (BMPs) implemented have to be inspected weekly and after each rain event.  Failure to contain sediment on the construction site can result in stop work notices, as well as significant monetary fines to the project owner.

Reed & Graham has been in the forefront of developing products and services to help the California construction industry meet these regulations.  Listed below are our Best Management Practices with links to our valued manufacturers, where appropriate, to give you the best, most up-to-date product information available.

Reed & Graham is committed to providing the finest quality, broad product selection of BMPs in the western United States.

Green Armor System

Application:  End of Pipe Energy dissipation

NPDES Phase II rule #5 requires post-construction Stormwater runoff controls, as well as their inspection and maintenance.  Typically the end of pipe product of choice has been Rip Rap to reduce energy.  ScourStop is a new system designed to transition from the pipe to a channel flow.  Scourstop eliminates the 3-10 foot hole that eventually develops at the end of the pipe, when rip rap is installed, while helping the water transition to laminar flow significantly reducing shear stress, the major cause of failures at the end of the pipe.

ScourStop Literature