Since 2000, the St. Joe County Conservation District has served as the designated Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Agency for the County. Certified Conservation District staff issue permits, inspect construction sites to evaluate erosion controls, and investigate unauthorized excavation. A soil erosion permit and plan along with regular site inspections are required for any excavation or earth change within 500 feet of a lake or river.
Soil escaping ineffective controls and flowing into lake. Dirt just pouring into a lake.
Sediment from construction sites — as well as from other sources of water and wind borne erosion — is the most prevalent form of contamination in our state’s lakes and rivers. Soil sediment covers aquatic habitats, increases dredging costs, and carries with it significant amounts of phosphorus and nitrogen contamination. Loose soil also causes property damage to neighboring lots.
Time for a Silt Fence! A good silt fence and rolled mulch installation.
For the past seven years, Tim Peterson has been the St. Joe County Conservation District’s primary enforcement agent. Mike Censke is also assigned to the program on a part-time, as-needed basis. Funding support from the County Board of Commissioners and permit fees allow the District to operate this vital state-mandated program, protecting the county’s waterways from accelerated erosion.
In some years, nearly 200 soil erosion permits are issued. This past year, however, 106 permits were issued. This tells us the housing construction boom on area lakes and rivers has stalled. While this is not a good sign for our economy, this has the positive effect of slowing deleterious construction projects on our lakes and streams considerably.
Adequate controls on construction sites usually include silt fencing near the water’s edge and some type of mulch on bare sloping ground. Temporary seeding and berms to divert rain water are important controls on some other types of sites. Hydro-mulching or sod are employed on difficult sites for final stabilization. The use of deeply rooting native plants is encouraged since they are ideally suited for our native soils.
The presence of gullies or muddy water around the fringes of a construction site means that sediment is being released in violation of state law (part 91 of PA 451, 1994). Water must not be allowed to leave a site at an erosive velocity or containing any soil sediment. Call our office to report any concerns or to request an application at 269-467-6336.