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Stormwater Wet Pond
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WSDOT protects the environment by preventing soil erosion on construction sites. Effective erosion control helps maintain water quality while reducing erosion-related cost overruns and project delays. WSDOT applies Environmental Management System standards to proactively plan, implement, and monitor Temporary Erosion and Sediment Control (TESC) activities.
Continuous improvement is achieved through regular review and update of existing erosion control policies, procedures, guidance documents, and training curriculum. Changes are based on solid data gathered through compliance assurance activities.
Guidance Materials
Maintaining guidance documents is essential to high quality erosion control planning and effective implementation. Success is based on a strong partnership with Regional Environmental Offices, Headquarters Design and Construction Offices, individual Project Engineer Offices, and contractors.
Compliance Assurance
A program applying Environmental Management System standards is continually improving by implementing changes in response to monitoring results. The Erosion Control Program relies on two primary compliance assurance activities to produce these results, the annual Fall Assessment (a statewide inspection program) and the water quality monitoring program. The analysis of data and reporting of results completes the EMS cycle graphic (pdf 14.2 kb) allowing WSDOT to demonstrate accountability to resource agencies and the public.
WSDOT Construction Water Quality Sampling and Reporting
The following protocols have been updated to reflect NPDES General Construction permit monitoring requirements as well as protocols for sampling during in-water work activities.
WSDOT has developed a Water Quality Monitoring database that automatically flags data that does not comply with permit requirements, prompting the user to report the event to the Project Engineer. All data must be entered into this database to ensure permit reporting requirements are met. Contact your local IT department to have the database installed on your computer. Contact Jana Ratcliff at 360-570-6649 or get on the course request list for course code C1B in ATMS for training on how to use the database and how to collect samples to meet permit conditions. A link to the database user's guide is available below.
Other Water Quality Sampling and Reporting (Local Programs, Utility, etc.) Non-WSDOT personnel can use the Excel spreadsheet linked below for reporting purposes. WSDOT staff can also use the following forms to record data while out in the field. Please forward a copy of the data collected to HQ Water Quality Program.
Environmental Compliance Assurance Procedures for Construction Projects and Activities
WSDOT's statewide Erosion Control Preparedness with TESC Planning Elements
Training
Construction Site Erosion and Sedimentation Control:
Contractor staff seeking certification to perform ESC Lead activities must receive training from an Ecology approved training provider. Ecology required classes are two days long, one in-class day followed by a day in the field installing BMPs.
Any contractor that took WSDOT's erosion course before February 2005 is grandfathered in and their certification is considered valid by both WSDOT and Ecology until their certification expires (3 years).
WSDOT's Construction Site Erosion & Sediment Control Course is required for WSDOT personnel responsible for designing or inspecting a TESC plan. To sign up for the class (course code BPW in ATMS), WSDOT personnel should contact their training coordinator or call OSC Staff Development at 360-705-7060. Consultants who develop Temporary Erosion and Sediment Control plans for WSDOT projects should take this course as well and should contact Jana Ratcliff (360-570-6649) for class schedule and availability.
Participants will understand the framework under which construction activities are regulated (e.g. Clean Water Act & Endangered Species Act), the factors affecting soil erodibility, proper erosion/sediment control Best Management Practice (BMP) usage, and the TESC planning process.
The course is eight hours long. First time participants as well as those re-certifying must attend the full 8 hours.
TESC Plan Design Course:
WSDOT has a web-based planning tool that helps designers create thorough and contractually enforceable TESC plans. The designer reviews requirements, selects BMPs, and identifies contractual tools to ensure enforcement of TESC plans. The planning tool helps ensure consistency in plan format as it automatically organizes and writes the TESC plan narrative. It also greatly accelerates the process for TESC plan review. (Course code CAY in ATMS)
Water Quality Monitoring Training:
This 2 hour course is for construction and region environmental staff who are responsible for collecting water quality samples during construction or responsible for training staff how to collect samples. WSDOT's Water Quality Monitoring Protocols (Ch. 6 of Highway Runoff Manual) are discussed to include NPDES General Construction permit requirements - when, where and how to sample; and also 401 Certification or in-water work sampling - when, where and how to sample. This course also includes a tutorial on how to use WSDOT's Water Quality Monitoring Database which is required for reporting sampling data. (Course code C1B in ATMS)
Training Questions?
Registration: Marlo Binkley, 360.705.7062
Content: Jana Ratcliff, 360.570.6649
Technical Assistance
The Erosion Control Program provides technical assistance to WSDOT staff that are preparing TESC plans, implementing them in the field, or monitoring water quality. If you need assistance, please contact your WSDOT Region Environmental Services, Jana Ratcliff at 360-570-6649 or Richard Tveten at 360-570-6648.