Maintaining the water quality in our creeks
and rivers is a benefit to all Johnson Creek property owners. A major
stormwater management concern prior to and during construction is
erosion control. Bare soil, easily eroded by moderate rains, can wash
into rivers, lakes and streams, polluting these critical areas. Many
effective techniques have been developed to reduce the harmful effects
of erosion and restore the site's natural infiltration capability
following construction.
A. Prior to home construction, the area of the lot that
will be disturbed by construction shall be defined and kept to a minimum.
All portions of the lot that will not be affected by construction
shall be left with existing vegetation permanently, or until landscaping
is ready to occur, and shall not be used for storage of equipment
or materials. By retaining the existing vegetation, the soil will
have less chance of washing out by heavy rains. By not allowing storage
and equipment in this area, the chance of soil becoming compacted
is reduced and is more likely to allow water to infiltrate into the
ground rather than run off.
B. A temporary diversion berm using salvaged topsoil
shall be constructed along the lowest sides of the lot. The diversion
will act as a barrier for sediment that could potentially wash from
the site during heavy rains. Stone weeps within the diversion allow
the water to be filtered of sediment prior to being released off site,
reducing the amount of sediment and pollution that reaches rivers
and other bodies of water.
C. A stone tracking pad is required at the entrance of
each lot. The large stones allow mud and soil from the tires of construction
vehicles to fall off prior to the vehicles leaving the construction
site.
D. On lots adjoining environmentally sensitive areas,
such as wetlands and environmental corridors, the installation of
a four-foot snow fence will be required at the boundary between the
area of disturbance and the adjacent sensitive area. The fence is
required to protect the environmentally sensitive areas from windblown
construction debris.
E. Once all construction equipment and materials have
been removed from the disturbed portion of the lot, the entire disturbed
area shall be deep-tilled. Deep tilling, or chisel plowing, will loosen
up the soil from the compaction of the heavy construction equipment.
This makes the soil a better growing environment for lawn and plantings
and helps reduce the amount of potential run off by allowing better
infiltration into the soil. Once the soil has been loosened, no equipment
or storage other than landscape equipment shall be allowed on this
portion of the site.
F. Deep tilling shall not be done below the dripline
of any mature trees that are to be kept, as this can damage the root
system of the tree.
Following construction, erosion containment
fencing will be maintained until sufficient vegetative material is
established to prevent sediment from being carried downstream off
the property.