Level II: Introduction to Design Vegetative Practices for Erosion and Sedimentation Control

1. Level II: Introduction to DesignVegetative Practices for Erosion and Sedimentation Control Level II: Introduction to Design Education and Training Certification Requirements for Persons Involved with Land Disturbing Activities Issued May 2009

2. Objectives • Review the vegetative measures • Understand the importance of: • Developing effective ES&PC plans • Site inventories • Preserving existing vegetation • Selecting proper vegetative measures • The sequence of components • Planning for the entire year • Maintenance of installed practices

3. Key Points • Excess soil erosion is not inevitable • Vegetation can reduce soil erosion • ES&PC plans are important • Proper planning is required for success • All ES&PC plans should be different • ES&PC plans should not be an afterthought • ES&PC is a system(vegetative/structural/management) • Adequate maintenance is required

4. Benefits of Vegetationin Erosion and Sedimentation Control • Intercepts raindrops • Reduces detachment • Slows runoff • Cleans runoff • Reduces runoff • Increases infiltration • Protects structures, rivers, streams, and ponds • Reduces maintenance of structural practices • Improves aesthetics, soil quality, and wildlife habitat

5. Construction Sites areinhospitablefor vegetative growth • Topsoil is removed • Steep slopes • Low soil moisture • Low soil fertility • Acidic soils • Concentrated flow • Compacted soils Intensive treatment is needed. Pasture planting methods are not effective.

6. Vegetative Practices“Manual for Erosion and Sediment Control in Georgia” • Bf Buffer Zone • Cs Coastal Dune Stabilization • Ds1 Mulching Only • Ds2 Temporary Seeding • Ds3 Permanent Seeding • Ds4 Sodding • Du Dust Control • Mb Matting and Blankets • Pm Polyacrylamide • Sb Streambank Stabilization • Tb Tackifiers and Binders

7. Buffer Zone • Undisturbed or planted vegetative strip • General Buffer – surround sites • Vegetated Stream Buffer – border streams Bf • Filter sediment & other pollutants • Reduce runoff velocities • Stabilize stream banks • Provide flood protection • Improve fish/wildlife habitat • Reduce construction noise • Improve aesthetics

8. Cs Coastal Dune Stabilization (with Vegetation) • Planting vegetation on • denuded, constructed, • or re-nourished dunes • Permits (local/state/federal) • Fertilization • Planting • Irrigation • Sand fences • Protection from traffic • Maintenance

9. Ds1 Disturbed Area Stabilization (With Mulching Only) • Applying plant residues or other suitable materials to protect • disturbed soil • Reduce runoff and erosion • Conserve moisture • Prevent surface compaction • Control undesirable vegetation • Modify soil temperature • Increase biological activity in the soil

10. Ds1 - Mulching Only • On exposed areasleft idle for 14 days • Apply at theappropriate depth • Must beanchored • Maintain cover on90% or moreof the soil surface • Can be used alone forup to 6 months

11. Disturbed Area Stabilization (With Temporary Seeding) Ds2 • Establishing fast growing vegetation for seasonal soil protection • Reduce soil erosion • Reduce runoff • Increase infiltration • Improve aesthetics • Improve soil quality • Improve wildlife habitat Browntop millet

12. Required Temporary Seeding • Rough graded areas • Diversions • Sides of temporary basins • Stockpiled soil • Temporary dams

13. Ds2 - Temporary Seeding • On all exposed areasleft idle for 14 days • Maintain 90% or morecover • Can use alone forup to 6 months • Use permanent vegetation if • protection is needed>6 months

14. Common Plants used for Temporary Cover Warm season annualsCool season annuals -brown top millet -rye -pearl millet -ryegrass -sudan grass -wheat • Some perennials, such as tall fescue and common bermuda, may also provide quick cover if planted properly

15. Disturbed Area Stabilization (with Permanent Vegetation) Ds3 Planting perennial vegetation (grasses, legumes, vines, shrubs, and trees) on exposed areas 1. Final permanent stabilization 2. Seasonal protection>6 months

16. Ds3 Permanent Vegetation Vegetative plans are based on site conditions. • Site location • Soil characteristics • Topography • Concentrated water flow • Planned land use • Soil fertility • Soil pH

17. Ds3 Components Grading and shaping Inoculants Lime Planting method Fertilizer Seeding depth Seedbed preparation Mulch Species selection Anchoring mulch Seeding rates Irrigation Seeding dates Maintenance

18. Soil Acidity (pH) • Affects plant growth • Almost all soils in Georgia are acidic • Most plants used need a soil pH of 6.0 - 6.5 • 1 – 2 T/A of agricultural lime initially • Maintenance lime applications are needed

19. Agricultural Lime • Does not move rapidly in the soil • Can be lost in runoff Conventional planting – apply immediately before seedbed preparation Hydro-seeding - apply (1) after straw/hay mulch, (2) with topdressing, or (3) with 2nd year fertilizer

20. Fertilization 1. Initial – immediately before or at planting 2. Topdressing – 6 to 8 weeks after planting 3. 2nd year – the year after planting 4. Maintenance – each year • Don’t “plant it and forget it” • Fertilize based on target species • Recommendations are in the “Manual”

21. Fertilizer Q. What do the numbers mean? A. The fertilizer analysis

22. Fertilizer Analysis % Nitrogen % Phosphorous % Potassium This 50 LB bag contains 30% plant food (15 LB) and 70% filler.

23. Fertilizer Selection is based on needs of the target species For legumes Initial fertilizer Ammonium nitrate (N topdressing for grasses)

24. Fertilizer for Grasses Analysis InitialN - P - K TopdressingN Second Yr. N - P - K MaintenanceN - P - K

25. Fertilizer for Grass/Legume Mixtures Analysis InitialN - P - K TopdressingN Second Yr. * - P - K Maintenance* - P - K *The desired species are legumes *Legumes get ample N from bacteria if the seed are inoculated properly

26. Seedbed Preparation • A depth of 4 to 6 inches • Incorporate lime and fertilizer • Provides seed-to-soil contact • Critical for good plant growth • Provides better root growth • Good plant cover requires a good root system • Not normally needed for hydro-seeding

27. Regional variations: Climate & Soils

28. Seeding Rates for a Quality Stand • Under-seeding reduces the stand • Over-seeding creates excessive demand for moisture, nutrients, light, and space More is not always better More seed will not overcome poor planting techniques

29. 1/ PLS = Pure Live Seed 2/ Seeding rate when seeded alone

30. All seed are not equal. • How do we determine how much of a particular seed to plant? • Use pure live seed (PLS) rates. The rates are easy to calculate.

31. Seed Label

32. Pure Live Seed (PLS) Calculations Step 1:Get information from seed label: -tall fescue seed -95% purity -85% germination Step 2:Calculate the PLS value of the seed: PLS = 0.95 x 0.85 = 0.81 or 81% Step3:Calculate the seeding rate: 50 #/AC = 62 #/AC are needed 0.81

33. Optimum planting dates for Warm Season Plants Plant common bermuda and weeping lovegrass in the early spring: April 1 - May 15 This permits germination, root growth, and plant development prior to the hot and dry summer.

34. Optimum planting dates for Cool Season Plants Plant rye, ryegrass, and tall fescue in early fall: September 1 - October 15 This permits germination, root growth, and plant development prior to the winter cold and spring drought.

35. Plan for the Entire Year • Construction completion dates are unpredictable • Schedules not always met • Weather and breakdowns cause delays • Time of year affects plant selection and performance • For both temporary and permanent vegetation • Seeding plans should vary throughout the year • Be prepared for all seasons

36. For each plan, develop a year-round seeding plan • Here is one example of a year-round seeding plan: January 1 – March 1 -Common Bermuda grass 5 LB/AC unhulled and 5 LB/AC hulled & -Rye ½ BU/AC (28 LB)

37. March 2 – June 1 -Common Bermuda grass 10 LB/AC hulled June 2 – September 1 -Common Bermuda grass 5 LB/AC hulledand 5 LB/AC unhulled & -Browntop millet 10 LB/AC

38. September 2 – December 31 -Common Bermuda grass 10 LB/AC unhulled and -Rye ½ BU/AC (28 LB)

39. Some seed germinate (sprout) slowly. Common Bermuda seed • Some seed coats prevent water absorption • Expands the germination period • Nature’s way to ensure species survival • ‘Hulled’ seed • Outer seed coat is removed mechanically • Allows water to enter the seed quicker • Faster seed germination Example: Common Bermuda (a warm season perennial grass) • Use hulled seed for spring/summer plantings for quick cover • Use unhulled seed in fall and winter plantings (The seed coat will be altered by Nature during the winter.) • Another option: Use a 50-50 mixture of hulled and unhulled seed to better ensure successful establishment ‘Unhulled’ ‘Hulled’

40. Some seed germinate slowly, even when hulled. Sericea lespedeza seed • ‘Hard’ seed are nearly impervious to water • ‘Hard’ seed may remain dormant a long time • Scarification overcomes seed coat dormancy • Scratches, softens, punctures, or splits the seed coat w/o embryo damage • Enables seed to absorb more water • Scarified seed will sprout faster and provide quicker cover Example: Sericea lespedeza (a warm season perennial legume) • Use scarified seed for spring/summer plantings • Use unscarified seed for fall and winter plantings (The seed coat will be altered by Nature during the winter.)

41. For plants that develop slowly, companion plants are needed. Sericea lespedeza emerging in weeping lovegrass Sericea lespedeza 2-3 years later Other examples are bahia grass and crown vetch.

42. Limit Seeding Rates of Companion Plants • Annuals are more vigorous and grow faster • Compete for nutrients, moisture and space

43. Cool Season Companion Plants Ryeis the best winter annual. It grows best in cold, acidic soils. Use ½ BU/AC (28 LB). Do not use ryegrassin seeding mixtures. It is sod forming and too competitive.

44. Mulch is very important! Dry straw - 2 T/A or Dry hay - 2 ½ T/A This will cover about 75% of the soil surface

45. Disturbed Area Stabilization (with Sodding) Ds4 • Establish immediate ground cover with permanent sod • Effective on steep slopes and in concentrated flow • areas • Components: • -soil preparation • -topsoil • -lime • -fertilizer • -anchoring (>3:1 slope) • -irrigation • -maintenance Cimarron Valley Sod Sod Solutions

46. Du Dust Control Controlling surface and air movement of dust • Temporary • Temporary plantings • Tackifiers/binders • Mulch • Rough tillage • Irrigation • Barriers • Calcium chloride • Permanent • Permanent vegetation and stone

47. Mb Erosion Control Matting and Blankets Protective coverings used to establish permanent vegetation • Protects young plants • Promotes plant establishment • Helps reduce erosion -Temporary and permanent blankets -All must be approved by GDOT

48. Mats and Blankets • Slopes steeper than 2.5:1 and 10’ high or higher • Concentrated flow areas • Cuts and fills within stream buffers • Streambanks • Tidal shorelines • Other areas

49. Blankets must be anchored. Start at top of slope and work down.

50. Pm Polyacrylamide(PAM) Land application of anionic polyacrylamide as temporary soil binding agent • To reduce erosion from wind and water • When establishment of vegetation not feasible • Site specific material • Repeat application if area is disturbed • Do not apply to surface water