Browsing by Subject "Erosion control"

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    Agricultural Engineering News Letter, number 78
    (University of Minnesota, Agricultural Extension Division, 1938-08) University of Minnesota, Agricultural Extension Division; Neal, J.H.
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    Best Practices Handbook for Roadside Vegetation Management
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2008-07) Johnson, Ann M.
    Maintaining roadsides for safety and aesthetics is an important issue for all levels of government throughout Minnesota. Vegetation is one important element of roadside maintenance. A healthy roadside environment reduces maintenance needs and costs, reduces erosion and improves water quality, improves water infiltration and reduces runoff, preserves the roadside surface, maximizes safety for vehicles and travelers, limits liability for the governing agency, maintains good public relations, improves the overall driving experience, and provides habitat for wildlife populations. This handbook was written to provide guidelines for effective management of roadside vegetation for local agencies, and highlights eight best management practices (BMPs) that were identified through research, literature review, surveys, and discussion with industry experts. The eight best management practices for roadside vegetation are: (1) develop an integrated roadside vegetation management plan; (2) develop a public relations plan; (3) develop a mowing policy and improved procedures; (4) establish sustainable vegetation; (5) control prohibited and restricted noxious weeds; (6) manage living snow fences; (7) use integrated construction and maintenance practices; and (8) manage roadside vegetation for wildlife and vehicle safety. The main conclusion from the handbook is that successful roadside vegetation management depends on an integrated approach. This includes a wide variety of best management practices to address the many issues involved. This integrated approach includes an assessment of the existing conditions and determination of the type of roadside environment desired. Other construction operations, including proper seeding techniques, selection of the correct plant in the right area, selection of salt-tolerant plant species where needed, and erosion control, will greatly affect the roadside condition. Use of integrated construction and maintenance practices is one of the most important best management practices identified in the handbook.
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    Best Practices Handbook on Roadside Vegetation Management
    (Minnesota Technology Transfer/LTAP Program, Center for Transportation Studies, 2000-09) Johnson, Ann M.
    Maintaining roadsides for safety and aesthetics is an important issue for all levels of government throughout Minnesota. Vegetation is one important element of roadside maintenance. This handbook provides guidelines for effective management of roadside vegetation for local agencies, and highlights seven best management practices that were identified through research, surveys, and discussion with industry experts. The seven best management practices for roadside vegetation fall into these seven categories: 1. Develop an integrated roadside vegetation management plan; 2. Develop a public relations plan; 3. Develop a mowing policy and improved procedures; 4. Establish sustainable vegetation; 5. Control noxious weeds; 6. Manage living snow fences; 7. Use integrated construction and maintenance practices; The main conclusion from the handbook is that successful roadside vegetation management depends on an integrated approach. This includes a wide variety of best management practices to address the many issues involved. This integrated approach includes an assessment of the existing conditions and determination of the type of roadside environment desired. Other construction operations, including proper seeding techniques, selection of the correct plant in the right area, selection of salt-tolerant seed species where needed, and erosion control, will greatly affect the roadside condition. Use of integrated construction and maintenance practices is one of the most important best management practices identified in the handbook.
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    Design Tool for Controlling Runoff and Sediment from Highway Construction
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2008-08) Wilson, Bruce N.; Sheshukov, Aleksey; Mendez, Aida
    Regulations require that stormwater pollution prevention plans be developed for construction activities that disturb an area that is equal to or greater than one acre. Different strategies, including a combination of practices, can be used to develop these plans. The WATER model was a tool developed from a previous project to assess the effectiveness of different on-site sediment control practices. This model is expanded in this study to consider offsite practices, to include processes at the watershed scale, and to allow spatial data sets to be integrated into the simulation framework. Routines to simulate the impact of off-site practices of rock check dams, vegetative filters, and detention ponds are added to the WATER model. The detention pond model has been modified to allow rock and gravel infiltration filters to be included as an off-site practice. Two different algorithms are used: (1) the Protocol Method based purely on empirical data and (2) the Process-Based Method using process-based relationships developed for porous media flow.
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    Erosion Forum Summary and Resource Guide
    (2009) North Shore Management Board (NSMB)
    This document gives a brief history and background to soil and bank erosion along the north shore of Lake Superior. It summarizes presentations made during the forum, and gives examples of erosion control projects near Two Harbors. The report gives practical examples and suggestions for planners, local governments and developers.
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    Erosion Risk Assessment Tool for Construction Sites
    (2006-07-01) Wilson, Bruce N.; Sheshukov, Aleksey; Pulley, Reid
    The impact of erosion and sediment from construction sites can be reduced by using a variety of onsite and offsite practices. The WATER model was developed to be a tool to assess the effectiveness of different sediment control practices. The WATER model evaluates risk by performing many simulations of a construction site response for different weather conditions. A particularly important component of the WATER model is the prediction of daily climate variables and storm characteristics called WINDS. This model uses the statistics for the analyzed data to predict many years of possible weather conditions. Predicted weather and storm characteristics are in very good agreement with those observed. The WATER model simulates surface runoff, plant processes, and erosion and sediment transport as major hillslope processes. Four runoff events (spring dry run, spring wet run, fall dry run, and fall wet run) from artificial rainfall conditions were measured.
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    Sediment Control Log Performance, Design, and Decision Matrix for Field Applications
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2019-05) Chapman, John; Wilson, Bruce; Holmberg, Kerry; Deering, Emily
    Significant time and money are currently being expended in the purchase and installation of sediment control logs. These logs often fail because of poorly understood performance limits and improper installation. This project investigated the performance limits by determining the flow and sediment removal characteristics of different types of logs. The physical characteristics and flow rates per project area were evaluated with twelve different logs. The densities and flow rate of materials in these logs varied between 0.035 gm/cm3 and 1508 ft /min for wood fiber to 0.269 gm/cm3 and 208 ft/min for compost. Flow rates were predicted using a power function of density with fair accuracy (r2=0.64) and predicted with good accuracy using saturated conductivity (r2=0.87) or capillary moisture content (r2=0.81). A sediment flume was constructed and used to evaluate sediment removal and failure rates. One log with three replicates of each type of material was tested. There was a positive, power function relationship between percent finer and mean log capture (r2 = 0.91). Field information was collected and used in conjunction with hydraulic and sediment data to develop selection guidelines for sediment control logs. Educational materials were prepared for workshops.