Urban and Community Conservation - National Association of Conservation Districts

NACD's mission is to serve conservation districts by providing national leadership and a unified voice for natural resource conservation.

Erosion and Sediment Control

Urban erosion Water and wind erosion occur anywhere the soil is exposed, including on developed and developing lands. While more common in construction site areas due to the amount of land movement and exposure, it also occurs on vacant lots, yards, parks, roadsides and more. Soil erosion and sedimentation reduces the carrying capacity of waterways, increases potential for flooding, stresses aquatic ecosystems, pollutes the air, and damages land capabilities.

Districts have worked with agricultural landowners on soil erosion issues since the Dust Bowl, with much of the early emphasis on land productivity. Over time, it was recognized that eroded soil could be a "nonpoint source pollution" and needed to be addressed. In the early 1970s, NACD worked with the Council of State Governments and the US Environmental Protection Agency to develop a "Model State Act for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control” and to conduct a series of "institutes" in states to encourage discussion.

A 1992 survey conducted by NACD showed that "during the past twenty years 26 states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands enacted significant provisions to strengthen their erosion and sediment control legislation (district laws, water quality laws, and E&S laws)." With the implementation of the national Nonpoint Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II, more districts still have become involved (see Stormwater Management section). As a result, the roles and responsibilities of conservation districts in urban erosion and sediment control are widely varied according to state and local expectations.

District Showcases

Dakota SWCD, MN
The Dakota SWCD in the Minneapolis-St Paul conducts a well-rounded urban and suburban program including services in Urban Erosion and Sedimentation Control as well as Community Conservation Cost-Share; Low Impact Development/Conservation Site Design; Backyard Conservation; Greenways and Natural Areas; and more.

New Jersey’s Conservation Districts
Anyone wishing to engage in land disturbance activities in New Jersey for the purposes of development or construction generally is required to develop a site plan for the control of soil erosion during construction. Plans for controlling erosion during construction have to be designed in accordance with a comprehensive set of erosion control practices known as the Standards for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control.

Ciudad SWCD, NM
The Ciudad SWCD initiated, designed, and constructed the Juan Tabo Project in coordination with the NM Recycling Coalition, the NM Environmental Department, the City of Albuquerque, and the NM Department of transportation. The demonstration site, on westbound I-40 at the Juan Tabo interchange, shows ways to turn a liability—road runoff—into an asset used for highway beautification and resource conservation, resulting in reduced highway maintenance expenses.

Resources

Sample State Guidelines for Erosion and Sediment Control
- New Jersey - General information; hard copy of E&S Standards available for a fee.
- Georgia - Links to information on manuals, technical guidance, permitting and local issuing.
- Illinois - The Illinois Urban Manual contains practice standards that protect urban natural resources from the impacts of development and impervious surface runoff.
Urban Soil Survey - Resources on urban soils from NRCS.

EPA Nonpoint Source Toolbox - The Toolbox contains a variety of resources to help develop an effective and targeted NPS outreach campaign.

Center for Watershed Protection
- Better Site Design - Resources related to BSD techniques, development code recommendations, and local
  incentives to adopt BSD.
- Controlling Runoff and Discharges - Materials related to assessing and managing stormwater runoff; preventing erosion and controlling sediment from construction sites and more.

Training

Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control™

Potential Funding Sources

Sample Fees for Services – Contact individual states or districts for current information.