Silt fence

Silt fence installed up-slope of a vegetated stream buffer

A silt fence, sometimes (misleadingly) called a "filter fence,"[1] is a temporary sediment control device used on construction sites to protect water quality in nearby streams, rivers, lakes and seas from sediment (loose soil) in stormwater runoff. Silt fences are widely used on construction sites in North America and elsewhere, due to their low cost and simple design.[2] However, their effectiveness in controlling sediment can be limited, due to problems with poor installation, proper placement, and/or inadequate maintenance.[3]

  1. ^ Stevens, Ellen; Barfield, Billy J.; Britton, S.L.; Hayes, J.S. (September 2004). Filter Fence Design Aid for Sediment Control at Construction Sites (Report). Cincinnati, OH: U..S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA 600/R-04/185.
  2. ^ Sprague, C.J. (1999). "Assuring the Effectiveness of Silt Fences and Other Sediment Barriers." Proceedings of Conference 30, International Erosion Control Association, Nashville, TN. pp. 133-154.
  3. ^ Brzozowski, Carol (Nov–Dec 2006). "Silt Fence Installation". Erosion Control. 13 (7). Forester Media.