Implementation of an Erosion Control Program

Recently, the City of Portland, Oregon implemented a revised Erosion Control Program that has almost a zero tolerance for erosion and sediment leaving a site. The program also added controls on construction site pollutants that were not previously in place. This new program direction has a significant impact on the way that construction is performed in the metropolitan area and how the related erosion control best management practices are utilized. The new program tried to address the failure of the current practices of development and the construction industry, and regulates non-permitted ground-disturbing activities that occur on a daily basis. The program requires application of some new technology, but mostly management techniques and management issues are what the program has targeted in order to improve the condition of our rivers, lakes and other water bodies. This paper addresses a brief history of the program and the implementation of the new ordinance.