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It's Time to Stabilize Your Construction Site Now |
Has active construction slowed down significantly or ceased altogether on your project or development? If you stabilize now you will save money in the long run. Read on for details.
Do you know that if your project has an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) NPDES permit (Click Here for a Copy of the Permit) that the "stabilization measures must be initiated as soon as practicable in portions of the site where construction activities have temporarily or permanently ceased"? To the letter of the law, this means within 7 days after the construction activity in that portion of the site has temporarily or permanently ceased.
Also, in order to file the Notice of Termination for the NPDES permit; final stabilization must be achieved.
 The NPDES permit defines Final stabilization as having soil disturbing activities completed and "a uniform (e.g., evenly distributed, without large bare areas) perennial vegetative cover with a density of 70 percent .... established on all unpaved areas and areas not covered by permanent structures."
 If you find yourself in the situation shown to the right, then take into account some of the site and project specific considerations detailed below to help determine the stabilization method that will keep you in permit compliance and be the most cost effective.
Time of planting - This is critically important because the germination of the seed is dependent on three factors: water, temperature and oxygen. The time of planting influences the first two of the previously listed factors. Spring and fall are usually when rains are frequent enough to provide the needed water and temperatures within the range for proper germination to occur. The optimum temperatures for seed germination for most common cool season grasses are 59°F - 77°F and 69°F - 86°F for warm season grasses. Summer planting is possible with proper site assesment and consideration of mulches and additives. Spring seeding is typically more cost effective.
Soils - Do you have an organic (i.e. topsoil, peat, compost) top layer or has the area been stripped for mass grading operations leaving an exposed sand, silt, clay surface?
Site conditions - Does the site lie flat, have significant gradient changes or hold water? Have all the roads and underground utilities been installed?
Development timeframes - Is the site being temporarily stabilized between construction activities or is construction complete and the site being brought into permit/ordinance compliance?
Soil preparation - There are two main planting factors that will determine the percent germination of the seeds. The primary one is planting depth. Seeds must be planted (covered by soil) at the correct planting depth. With most grass seeds that depth is 1/8" to 1/4" of soil above the seed. A properly prepared seed bed helps provide the correct depth and has reduced compaction of the soil. This allows the roots to push through and grow (find water and nutrients) easier and faster. The second factor is good soil moisture and that is why timing is important. Without water, seeds will not germinate. If you are planting in the middle of summer soil additives will be required.
Additives - Can be applied to aid in the establishment and success of the stabilization vegetation. Additives include fertiler, mulch, and polymer applications.
Fertilizer - Can be applied to artificially supply the nutrients that are lacking in the soil matrix to increase the success rate of vegetation establishment. Determination of the proper fertilizer can be economically achieved by testing the soil for pH and N-P-K levels.
Moisture retention - Mulches and synthetic, water-absorbing polymer crystals can be used to store water around roots. When mixed in the soil, polymers act as a reservoir, returning up to 95 percent of stored water to growing plants.
Mycorrhizae - Builds a mutually beneficial relationship between the roots of most plant and soil and helps bring more nutrients to plants. Mycorrizhae is a necessary part of any natural eco-system. From this relationship the plant receives improved nutrient intake and an improved resistance to temperature changes and dry periods.
Local requirements - Does the local, county or state regulatory authority have any adopted ordinances or specific performance requirements?
Maintenance requirements - Is the area to be stabilized being actively marketed? Is there a height restriction on the vegetation? Do the weeds need to be "managed out" via infrequent mowing and herbicide applications? Consult with your municipality to understand weed height ordinances and enforcement expectations.
Seed mix - All of the above variables can be taken into account to create a custom seed mix to meet the individual needs of the site. However, specific seed mixes and additives for stabilization purposes have been refined by ENCAP based on the time of year. Seeding in Spring,Summer,Fall, and even Winter have shown good overall results.
Budget - Listed last, but probably the most important factor in determining the correct solution for the individual needs of the site.
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Planting Warms Season Grasses in Spring
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 Mixed stands of native warm season grasses provide excellent cover for wildlife, but establishing the first stand requires patience and knowledge. Opinions differ somewhat on planting dates. The issue with planting time is to allow the plants to get as large as possible during the growing season so that they can survive frost conditions. Plantings up to a month after corn planting and late fall dormant seedings are practical. Mid summer and early fall plantings are riskier but can be completed with the right expertise and the right weather.
The use of native grasses was initiated in the 1930s by the USDA Soil Conservation Service (Now the NRCS) because of the Dust Bowl. The Dust Bowl years showed that introduced cool season grasses were extremely vulnerable to drought while native grasses, where they were not plowed out, were far more tolerant.
While mature native grasses are very tolerant to extreme wheather conditions, they germinate slowly after planting. Often a month goes by before we see any evidence of growth above the surface. Even then the tiny shoots are reddish brown and hard to spot for a few weeks. The initial enegry contained in the seed is used for root production. This "roots first leaves second" strategy is great for the long term, however cool season plants using the opposite strategy (weeds) get off to a faster start and can shade the native seedlings.
This is why mowing at the proper height and judiscious use of herbicide is a prerequisite for the initial growing seasons. The pay back for this up front anxiety is a robust, stress-tolerant, low nutrient requiring, CO2 capturing wildlife cover that also provides long term erosion control with very deep root systems.
Click here to download NRCS fact sheets about Native Warm Season Grasses. | |
Maintenance Considerations
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Maintenance is required whether you are dealing with site stabilization issues, naturalized stormwater management areas, or prairie restoration projects. It is true that these areas requriere less maiantnenace than lawns and flowerbeds, however the difference between success and failure often is a result of stewardship efforts.
It is important to note that maintenance of
an established natural area is reactive to conditions as observed in the
field. For example, if there was a lack
of annual weeds in a prairie buffer, no spring mowing would be required.
Likewise, if weather conditions did not allow for a prescribed burn, mowing and raking may
be recommended in lieu of the burn to control thatch build up and promote
sunlight penetration in the spring.
The long term manager in charge of
the maintenance should assess the site annually. The assessment should briefly outline problem
areas each year, document the maintenance that has occurred, and project future
maintenance activities. The table below shows a typical mainenance schedule for a natural area.
Please keep in mind that this is a general schedule and not project specific.
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Carl Peterson - LEED Professional Accreditation
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Carl Peterson, Vice
President at ENCAP, Inc. has recently earned LEED Professional Accreditation.
 LEED Professional
Accreditation distinguishes building professionals with the knowledge and
skills to successfully steward the LEED certification process. LEED Accredited
Professionals (LEED APs) have demonstrated a thorough understanding of green
building practices and principles and the LEED Rating System. More than 75,000
people have earned the credential since the Professional Accreditation program
was launched in 2001.
Carl intends to utilize
his expertise in natural resource management, native landscaping, conservation, stromwater management, and erosion control to help clients maximize their potential on LEED projects. For more information on the LEED program
click on the link below. LEED Resources
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Canoeing: A Great Way to Experience Water Resources
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 Northern Illinois
offers lots of opportunities to enjoy the out of doors - bike trails, forest preserves, parks, golf courses, etc.
Have you considered canoeing or kayaking? A few upcoming canoe/ kayak races include the Des Plaines River
Canoe Marathon on May 17and the Mid-American Canoe & Kayak Race on June 7.
These races offer a variety of divisions and
fun for both the novice and the experienced canoeist. The Des Plaines race begins in Libertyville and
ends in Mt. Prospect. More information
is available at http://www.canoemarathon.com/.
The Mid-American race has a choice of two
starting points, St. Charles or Batavia, and ends in Aurora. Go to http://www.foxvalleyparkdistrict.org/?q=node/554
for more information and to sign up.
For the die hard
canoeist, the USCA National Stock Aluminum Canoe Marathon Championships will be
held on May 16th. The course
is 14.2 miles long from Vernon Hills to Wheeling. More information is available at http://www.canoemarathon.com/alumnats.cfm. ENCAP, Inc. employee Pat Hickey will be
competing in the USCA Nationals, lets wish him luck.
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| Useful Ordinance Links |
Lake County
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| Upcoming Events |
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Look for ENCAP professionals at these upcoming events.
May 11-14
Jonanthan Koepke will be presenting two case studies at the South East IECA Conference.
ASCE - World Environmental & Water Resources Congress
Kansas City
May 30
Wisconsin Water Resource Conference
Oshkosh
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