Erosion Control and Sediment Control: Land Clearing and Grading

Contents

• About Erosion and Sediment Control
• General Information
• Ordinance Provisions
• Related MRSC Pages
  • Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Storm and Surface Water Management
  • Landscaping - Includes landscape preservation
  • Local Storm and Surface Water Management Regulations

About Erosion and Sediment Control

Erosion control measures are designed to prevent environmental damage caused by pollution, soil erosion, and sedimentation from land development. Construction site stormwater runoff is regulated on the local level and at the State level (See DOE's Stormwater Management and Design Manuals page). The Department of Ecology's NPDES Phase II permit requires the permittee to include a construction site stormwater runoff control component in its stormwater management program (SWMP) that the permittee must develop and implement during the term of the permit.  Minimum performance standards are provided.  See Western Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit, Section S5(C)(4) and Eastern Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit, Section S5(B)(4)

• Phase I Municipal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits required large urban cities and counties to adopt ordinances implementing controls for new development and redevelopment, including measures for control of erosion, sedimentation, and other pollutants on construction sites.  Phase II Municipal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program required many municipalities throughout the state to adopt ordinances implementing controls for new development and redevelopment, including measures for control of erosion, sedimentation and other pollutants on construction sites.  See EPA NPDES Stormwater Discharges From Construction Activities.
• General Stormwater Permit for Construction Activities (DOE Information) which result in the disturbance of one or more acres of land, including clearing, grading and excavation activities, and discharge stormwater from the site into a surface water or discharge to a storm drain system which discharges to a surface water must apply for coverage under the NPDES General Permit for Stormwater Associated with Construction Activities. Some construction projects may require an individual NPDES permit. 

General Information

• Construction Stormwater Pollution Prevention, Vol. II. Storm Water Management Manual for Western Washington, 2005, Washington State Department of Ecology
• Erosion Control Techniques on Coastal Bluffs, Department of Ecology 
• Stormwater Erosion and Sediment Control for Small Parcel Construction (), Department of Ecology Report WQ-R-93-012 1 #3 of 5
• Stormwater Erosion and Sediment Control for Large Parcel Construction (), Department of Ecology Report WQ-R-93-012 1 #4 of 5
• Water Quality Guide: Recommended Pollution Control Practices for Homeowners and Small Farm Operators Erosion Control, Washington State Department of Ecology, Water Quality Program

Ordinance Provisions

• Erosion and Sediment Control Model Ordinances - U.S. EPA
• Bainbridge Island Municipal Code Ch. 15.18 - Land Clearing
• Gig Harbor Municipal Code Ch. 17.94 - Land Clearing
• Clark County Erosion Control Program
  • Clark County Code Ch. 40.385 - Stormwater and Erosion Control Ordinance 
• Island County Code Ch. 11.02 () - Clearing and Grading Requirements
• Issaquah Municipal Code Chapter 16.30 - Erosion and Sediment Control
• King County
  • Erosion and Sediment Control for Construction Sites
  • King County Erosion and Sediment Control Standards (), Appendix D, King County Surface Water Design Manual
  • King County Code  Ch. 16.82 () - Clearing and Grading
  • King County Clearing and Grading Permits (), Customer Information Bulletin No. 28 effective January 1, 2005
• Longview Municipal Code Ch. 17.80 - Stormwater Runoff and Erosion Controls
• Pasco Ordinance No. 11-1 () - Construction and post-construction stormwater control regulations, passed 1-11
• Redmond MunicipalCode  Ch. 15.24 - Clearing, Grading, and Stormwater Management Code
  • Redmond Ordinance No. 2218 () amends code to conform to DOE Storm Water Manual and meet NPDES Phase II requirements, passed 6-04
• Seattle
  • Stormwater, Grading and Drainage Code Revisions  - The Stormwater, Grading and Drainage Control Code (SMC 22.800-22.808) and associated Directors’ Rules are being revised to account for advances in urban stormwater runoff management practices, June 2009
  • Seattle Ordinance No. 119965 - Relating to the stormwater, grading and drainage control code, passed June 2000.
  • Changes to Stormwater Regulations Adopted, DCLU Info, June 2000.
  • Construction Stormwater Control Technical Requirements Manual () Issued July, 2000
• Vancouver Municipal Code Ch. 14.24 - Erosion Control
• Whatcom County Ordinance No. 2005-074 () - Seasonal restrictions on clearing activities in Lake Whatcom and Lake Samish water resource special areas.

Return to Storm and Surface Water Home

Related MRSC Resources
MRSC Index –Grading and land clearing
MRSC Index – Geological hazards, hillsides, steep slopes, landslide hazards, erosion control
MRSC Index – Surface water management, storm drainage management, urban wet weather, water pollution control