Erosion and Sediment Control

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Overview

Erosion and sediment controls (ESC) are technologies, practices and procedures that are applied to prevent the release of sediment from construction sites. Rapid urban expansion and associated construction activities are a significant source of stress to the natural environment. As construction processes involve the removal of vegetation and de-stabilization of soils, they can accelerate natural processes of erosion and sedimentation, mobilizing more sediment and associated contaminants that can ultimately end up in downstream receiving water systems. Erosion and Sediment Control (ESC) measures are essential to help reduce these sediment loads from active construction sites and protect downstream aquatic habitats from becoming impaired.

Effective ESC starts before topsoil stripping begins. This flow chart shows the ESC process from construction project start to finish. Scroll through the wiki to read about each step of the process.

Inadequate ESC during construction can cause:

• sediment-laden runoff to enter downstream and adjacent natural features, including streams, lakes, wetlands and woodlots;
• deposition of sediment on adjacent private property and roadways;
• clogging of onsite stormwater management systems and LIDs;
• expensive cleanup and restoration costs;
• delays or stop-work orders; and
• fines from regulatory agencies.

Implementing effective ESC practices throughout all stages of construction is essential to sustainable urban growth and ensuring regulatory compliance. The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, through STEP, published the Erosion and Sediment Control Guide for Urban Construction in 2019. This wiki page summarizes key content from the guide and provides additional resources; however, readers should consult the full guide for comprehensive information. https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/home/erosion-and-sediment-control/esc-guide/

Soil, sand and minerals washed from land into water, usually after rain. They pile up in reservoirs, rivers and harbors, destroying fish-nesting areas and holes of water animals and cloud the water so that needed sunlight might not reach aquatic plans. Careless farming, mining and building activities will expose sediment materials, allowing them to be washed off the land after rainfalls.

Refers to the conditions in which an organism lives and survives or the conditions in which an organism resides. These conditions can be described as aspects of a “physical”, “social” or an “economic” environment, depending on the perspective perceived by the observer.

Deposition of material of varying size, both mineral and organic away from its site of origin by the action of water, wind, gravity or ice.

Settling-out or deposition of particulate matter suspended in runoff.

Soil, sand and minerals washed from land into water, usually after rain. They pile up in reservoirs, rivers and harbors, destroying fish-nesting areas and holes of water animals and cloud the water so that needed sunlight might not reach aquatic plans. Careless farming, mining and building activities will expose sediment materials, allowing them to be washed off the land after rainfalls.

The portion of water precipitated onto a catchment area, which then flows as surface discharge from the catchment area past a specified point.

Water from rain, snow melt, or irrigation that flows over the land surface.

Land owned by private individuals or companies.

Soil particles with a diameter less than 0.050 mm.

Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program