Erosion Control and Stormwater

Moving water has power. When water is flowing down a hillside, through a roadside ditch, along a streambank, or against a shoreline in the form of waves it becomes a force capable of moving sediments and rocks, washing away soils, and eroding property. Some degree of erosion is natural. However, erosion can be accelerated or decelerated by actions taken by property owners. For example, clearing shoreline vegetation will accelerate the process while controlling runoff to the shore will slow it down.

Water is also a great dissolver. Although this characteristic is beneficial to people in many ways—it can also cause problems. When water washes over the landscape it dissolves and picks up materials and contaminants that pollute local streams and lakes.

Stormwater pollution is the contaminants that rain water picks up as it washes over driveways, roads, lawns, parking lots and other land uses. The cumulative impact of all these “little” sources of pollution is great. It is everyone’s responsibility to protect local waterways by reducing stormwater runoff and preventing rain water from carrying pollutants to local streams and lakes.

What is Runoff?

Stormwater runoff occurs when water from rain or snowmelt flows over the ground, rather than soaking into the ground. The most common places stormwater runoff is seen, is on impervious surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, and streets. Runoff can have adverse effects on the quality of local waterways because the runoff mixes with and carries sediments, debris, chemicals, pet wastes, road salts, and other pollutants.

Polluted runoff can flow into a storm sewer or directly into a lake, stream, river or wetland. Sediments can make water cloudy, destroy fish habitat, and carry nutrients that cause algae blooms and extreme growth in aquatic plants. Animal wastes carry pathogens that cause disease. Debris such as plastic bags, six-pack rings, bottles and cigarette butts can choke or disable ducks, fish, turtles, and birds. Lawn chemicals can contaminate drinking water supplies. In addition to the negative effects on water quality, severe runoff can also cause soil erosion and property loss. Controlling runoff pollutants at the source is vital to keeping our water clean. It is everyone’s responsibility to minimize the amount of harmful pollutants that stormwater can pick up along the way.

Reducing Erosion

Streamside and shoreline properties are especially vunerable to erosion, although erosion can also occur on any exposed or unvegetated soil. The best way to prevent erosion from beginning is to keep soils planted with vegetation or covered with mulch. Steep slopes, streambanks, and shorelines that are planted with woody shrubs and trees are less likely to have serious erosion problems, than those kept in only grass or maintained as lawn. If you have some trouble areas on your property, there are a number of options available that can help stablize the soil and reduce the amount of ground that is washed away. Depending upon the degree of erosion and the slope of the bank, adding vegetation, physical erosion control structures, alternative drainage or some combination of the three may be appropriate. For example, to alleviate erosion of a steep bluff, vegetation, rip-rap and drainage may be required.
Download the following resources from the Publication Page to learn more about correcting an erosion problem:

“10 Ways to Prevent & Reduce Erosion”

“Living on the Edge: Special Considerations for Shoreline Properties”

Interested in more natural-looking techniques to control erosion? There a number of techniques collectively called "biotechnical erosion control." Plants that root quickly such as shrub dogwoods and shrub willows are used in a variety of ways to control erosion. One technique that has been successfully used in the Skaneateles Lake Watershed is called a live fascine or wattle. It is a bundle of dormant stem cuttings tied together. When the wattles are planted in a bank, they sprout a continuous line of roots and shoots that more quickly stabilizes the soil than individual plants. Within a few years, the "sprouts" look like a line of regular dogwood or willow shrubs.

Stormwater Rules & Regulations

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and New York State Department of Conservation (NYS DEC) are implementing new regulations that address the management of stormwater pollution coming from urban areas and construction sites.

What does this mean for homeowners?
IF YOU ARE PLANNING A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT THAT DISTURBS ONE OR MORE ACRES OF LAND – YOU MUST HAVE A PERMIT FOR STORMWATER DISCHARGES FROM THE SITE.

The NYS DEC requires that before starting construction, a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) must be developed. If you begin construction before filing a Notice of Intent affirming that the SWPPP has been prepared and is being implemented, you may be subject to a penalty of up to $25,000 per violation per day. It could take up to 60 business days to get a permit – but often only takes 5 business days, depending on the type of construction site involved – So Plan Ahead!
For more information visit the NYS DEC Web Page or the regional office. (Onondaga County is in Region 7).

The following web sites provide additional information about the Stormwater Phase II Program:

US EPA Stormwater Program, http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=6

Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board, http://www.cnyrpdb.org/stormwater-phase2/default.asp