The Practical Application of BMPs for Road Maintenance Activities

摘要

Best management practices are a vital and necessary component of road maintenance activities. When used correctly, they will reduce the risk of pollution and provide habitat protection. Best management practices are more than just the physical installation and monitoring of erosion and sediment control products. They also include planning, scheduling, and training. A best management plan for road maintenance has been created to incorporate all of these processes and procedures and is referred to as the Regional Road Maintenance ESA Program Guidelines. The guidelines provide a framework which anyone can use to plan, schedule, and identify the appropriate erosion and sediment control practices for common road maintenance projects. The implementation of BMPs and the training of crews in how to use them properly is one of the most important components of the guidelines. This paper summarizes the training program for BMP use, the effectiveness of some common BMPs found in the guidelines and how to incorporate risk assessment into the planning and scheduling of projects. Results from the testing demonstrate that for sediment control, triangular silt dike is a good choice while for erosion control protection, coir, jute or excelsior mat placed over straw works best on steep slopes. On flat slopes, straw placement or hydroseeding is preferable depending on the proximity to sensitive areas and time of year.