1. 1.If you are clearing trees and vegetation you are likely to have more water rising to the surface and additional run-off as a result. If possible, clear the area a year before you plan to build to allow the site and water table to stabilize. Be sure to cover your exposed soils to prevent erosion and turbid run-off. Hint: Cedar trees are an indicator of a lot of sub-surface water.
   

2. 2.Most noxious weeds need exposed dirt to grow. Protecting exposed soils with 2" of straw, hay, mulch or compost will help prevent the spread of noxious weeds.
   

3. 3.If you have woody debris on your site, rent a chipper and make your own mulch rather than buying it and trucking it in. This will help recreate the natural duff layer and condition the soils.
   

4. 4.If you have fields or large areas to be mowed save the clippings and spread a 2" layer on exposed soils. This is an excellent soil conditioner and an easy way to save money and reduce impacts to the environment.
   

5. 5.Limiting the access of heavy equipment and vehicular traffic around the site by marking the clearing limits or roping off parking areas will help from creating unnecessary pollution generating impervious surfaces. Less traffic from bare dirt or muddy areas will lessen the impacts to the construction access and keep sediment from being tracked off the site.  If you don't have graveled areas for parking lay down 4" to 6" of hog fuel or mulch.
   

6. 6.Buying biodegradable erosion and sediment controls means less cost for disposal.
   

7. 7.Seeding alone is not soil stabilization; 1" of mulch, straw, compost or lawn clippings along with seed is considered stabilization.
   

8. 8.If you are putting seed down for final stabilization during the dry season, clear plastic sheeting will give a greenhouse effect and help the seed grow (note: in this case the 1" layer of straw, mulch or compost is not necessary)
   

9. 9.Concrete waste water has pH levels higher than bleach, rinsing of the truck chutes into ditches, catch basins, wetlands, ponds or other surface waters will have an impact on the environment. Discharging this type of water to a pit with permeable soils will allow the microbes in the soils to neutralize the pH level creating much less of an impact.
   

10. 10.On gentle slopes grade your driveway to sheet flow towards vegetated areas rather than ditching, this avoids impacts from downstream erosion and flooding. When possible install a 2-track driveway to lessen the amount of impervious surface, several local excavators offer this option.
    

11. 11.If you have a property that is wet most of the year, check with the Planning Department regarding wetlands in the neighborhood, chances are you may have an undocumented wetland on your property.
    

12. 12.Performing work within a wetland can require local, state and federal permits (depending on size and class), penalties for doing unpermitted work in wetlands can carry heavy mitigation measures and fines.
    

13. 13.If you have a shoreline property and are planning to pipe your stormwater over the bank a HPA (Hydraulics Permit Approval) is required through the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Tips on Managing Stormwater During Construction

These tips were developed by Shannon Hoffman of the San Juan County Public Works Department and are distributed by the Community Planning and Development Department.