Construction site erosion control training offered this winter

Madison - Builders, contractors and building and erosion control inspectors can learn more about controlling erosion on single- and two-family homes by attending one of four workshops offered this spring at sites throughout Wisconsin.

Locations for this year's workshops include Madison on Feb. 12, Eau Claire on Feb. 14, Appleton on Feb. 19 and Rhinelander on Feb. 21.

Construction sites are one of the most significant sources of pollution to Wisconsin lakes and streams. One acre under construction on a poorly managed site can deliver as much sediment to our waterways in a year as 75 acres of cropland, according to University of Wisconsin-Extension water resources educator John Exo. Conversely, well-managed sites with properly installed and maintained practices can yield very little sediment.

"In urbanizing areas, more than half of the soil washed into our waterways can come from construction sites. If we want lakes and streams that are fit for fishing, swimming and boating, we need to control construction site erosion," says John Exo.

Often, builders spend more cleaning up the results of poor erosion control-mud on sidewalks and streets or covering neighboring lawns-than they would correctly installing practices initially. Keeping soil in place is the least expensive way to protect local waterways-and it makes for more marketable properties. Many builders are learning and practicing good erosion control.

The workshops cover the cheapest and most effective ways to control erosion. Participants will also learn about the processes of erosion, effective practice installation and maintenance, as well as techniques to control erosion on unique sites, such as steep slopes and along shorelands.

According to the Department of Commerce, which oversees erosion control for one- and two-family home construction, the most commonly used measure is silt fences. "But silt fences only work if they are properly installed and maintained," notes State Building Inspector, Leroy Stublaski.

When inspectors visit construction projects, they often find silt fences installed incorrectly or poorly maintained. A properly installed silt fence holds water back long enough so that much of the sediment from runoff settles out on the construction site.

Even when a silt fence is properly installed, it only traps about half of the sediment in runoff. "That's just a limitation of their design," says Gary Bubenzer, University of Wisconsin-Extension Biological Systems Engineering Specialist. He says the best way to control erosion is to establish grass cover and replant exposed areas quickly. "Within a few weeks, the new grass will stop up to 95 percent of the erosion," Bubenzer says.

Another effective way to trap sediment on large construction projects is to install sediment basins. These basins can trap up to 80 percent of the sediment when correctly designed and built.

"Building without controlling erosion pollutes our lakes and streams," adds Exo. "Any mud that washes off one lot may not look like much. But it can add up to a big problem when you consider all of the lots under construction each year, if erosion is not controlled on those sites."

To help answer people's questions about erosion control techniques and regulations, UW-Extension works with builders associations and the Wisconsin Departments of Commerce and Natural Resources to offer basic erosion control training for builders, contractors, excavators, graders and building inspectors. Participants will learn about these issues and more by attending one of the four
February workshops.

The workshops are sponsored by the University of Wisconsin-Extension, the Wisconsin Department of Commerce and the Wisconsin Builders Association.

The registration fee for the one-day workshop is $55 and includes lunch, the Wisconsin Construction Site Best Management Practice Handbook and other printed materials on erosion control.

To register, call the UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Outreach Services office at (608) 263-1672.

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File: Environment