What are sediment control practices designed to prevent?

Sediment control practices are specifically focused on preventing eroded soil from leaving a construction site and entering nearby water bodies or the surrounding environment. This is crucial because sediment can carry with it not only soil particles but also pollutants, nutrients, and other harmful substances that can degrade water quality. By implementing effective sediment control measures, such as silt fences, sediment basins, and other physical barriers, construction sites can mitigate the transport of eroded materials.

While erosion of the soil is a related concern, it is primarily the sediment losses associated with that erosion that sediment control practices aim to manage. Water flow to Best Management Practices (BMPs) and preventing contaminants in groundwater are important aspects of stormwater management but are not the primary goals of sediment control practices. Instead, sediment control practices are a specific category within a broader framework of erosion and stormwater management strategies focused on maintaining site integrity and protecting water quality.