Design Methodology for the Selection of Temporary Erosion and Sediment Control Practices Based on Regional Hydrological Conditions
Publication: Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 21, Issue 4
Abstract
Construction-related activities typically disturb established vegetation, resulting in the potential for accelerated erosion. Because of the associated water quality impacts of construction activities, the USEPA has established regulatory programs to manage stormwater runoff emanating from construction sites. Currently, designers typically rely on “rules of thumb” for the design and selection of temporary erosion and sediment control practices. To provide a hydrologically sound approach, this research developed a quick and direct sizing method based on Technical Release–55 methodology. The analysis focused on Type-II and Type-III rainfall distributions, with 171 hydrological simulations performed. The results yielded applicable equations for the determination of flow rates representative of regional conditions for a typical 0.405-ha (1.0-acre) roadway median drainage basin. Geographical information system (GIS) analyses were used to develop and analyze regional hydrological characteristics. The GIS modeling results showed the average 2-year, 24-h rainfall depth and soil curve number for newly graded developing urban areas in the state of Alabama to be 11.3 cm (4.43 in.) and 88.5, respectively. Multiple linear regressions were performed on simulated data to develop equations to calculate expected total storm volume, peak flow rate, and average flows for 30-, 60-, and 90-min peak volumes based on regional input rainfall parameters and a weighted curve number. The developed relationships reported low standard errors when compared with a complete hydrologic analysis. Designers can implement these regression relationships as design aids in selecting and sizing appropriate runoff control practices for projects under consideration when developing stormwater pollution prevention plans.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge Robert Hall for his assistance in data entry performed while working as an undergraduate research assistant. This paper is based on a study sponsored by ALDOT, and the authors gratefully acknowledge this financial support. The findings, opinions, and conclusions expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the sponsor.
References
ADEM (Alabama Department of Environmental Management). (2011). “National pollutant discharge elimination system permit general permit.” Montgomery, AL.
ALDOT (Alabama Department of Transportation). (2010). “ALDOT sedimentation basin recommendations.” Montgomery, AL.
ASCE/EWRI (Environmental and Water Resources Institute) Curve Number Hydrology Task Committee. (2008). “Curve number hydrology.” Reston, VA.
ArcInfo [Computer software]. Redlands, CA, Esri.
ArcGIS [Computer software]. Redlands, CA, Esri.
AutoCAD [Computer software]. San Rafael, CA, Autodesk.
Bentley Pondpack version 8i. [Computer software]. Haestad Methods Solution Center, Watertown, CT.
California Stormwater Quality Association. (2003). California stormwater BMP handbook, Menlo Park, CA.
Donald, W. N., Zech, W. C., Fang, X., and LaMondia, J. J. (2013). “Evaluation of wheat straw wattles for velocity reduction in ditch check installations.” Trans. Res. Rec., 2358, 69–78.
Hershfield, D. M. (1961). “Technical paper no. 40: Rainfall frequency atlas of the United States for durations from 30 minutes to 24 hours and return periods from 1 to 100 years.” USDA, Washington, DC, 1–65.
Mather, P. (2014). “Hearing on solving the problem of polluted transportation infrastructure stormwater runoff.” Committee on Environment and Public Works, Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife, Washington, DC.
McLaughlin, R. A., Rajbhandari, N., Hunt, W. F., Line, D. E., Sheffield, R. E., and White, N. M. (2001). “The sediment and erosion control research and education facility at North Carolina state university.” Soil Erosion Research for the 21st Century, Proc., Int. Symp., Honolulu.
Miller, D. A., and White, R. A. (2006). “Soil information for environmental modeling and ecosystem management.” 〈http://www.soilinfo.psu.edu/index.cgi?soil_data&conus〉 (Jun. 20, 2013).
North Carolina Sedimentation Control Commission. (2013). Erosion and sediment control planning and design manual, Raleigh, NC.
Perez, M., Zech, W., Donald, W., and Fang, X. (2014). “Methodology for evaluating inlet protection practices using large-scale testing techniques.” J. Hydrol. Eng., 04014049.
USDA. (1986). “Technical release 55: Urban hydrology for small watersheds.” Natural Resources Conservation Service, Washington, DC.
USDA. (2004). National engineering handbook part 630 hydrology, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Washington, DC.
U.S. EPA. (2012). “National pollutant discharge elimination system general permit for discharges from construction activities.” Washington, DC.
USEPA. (2000). “Stormwater phase II final rule: Construction site runoff control minimum control measure.” Washington, DC.
Viessman, W., and Lewis, G. L. (2003). Introduction to Hydrology, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ.
Zech, W., Halverson, J., and Clement, T. (2008). “Intermediate-scale experiments to evaluate silt fence designs to control sediment discharge from highway construction sites.” J. Hydr. Eng., 497–504.
Zech, W., McDonald, J., and Clement, T. (2009). “Field evaluation of silt fence tieback systems at a highway construction site.” Pract. Period. Struct. Des. Constr., 105–112.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 21 • Issue 4 • April 2016
Copyright
© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 19, 2014
Accepted: Oct 7, 2015
Published online: Jan 7, 2016
Published in print: Apr 1, 2016
Discussion open until: Jun 7, 2016
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.