Properly Install & Need for Education

Maintain BMPs
Silt Fence /
Super Silt Fence
The amount of sediment
entering a waterbody increases
with ANY type of land
Sediment
When properly
installed, silt fence will
trap sediment and
disturbance. ANYONE
conducting land disturbing
activities has an impact on the
Challenges
for Wild
allow water to pass
through. The super
watershed; therefore education is
silt fence has a wire fence for support and to a major component of non-point
protect the fence from buckling from larger source pollution prevention.
rocks on steep slopes.

Dirt Bag
A dirt bag is a great BMP
The challenges of sediment
reduction can be addressed
Mountains
when working in a
confined area near a
stream. The sediment
through cooperation and
education. For information and
technical assistance contact:
& Rolling
Streams…
laden water flows into
the bag, the sediment
settles out and the WV Conservation Agency
water flows out of the porous material. When
Watershed Resource Center
the Dirt Bag is filled, the bag is removed and
can be cut open and the sediment spread, 1900 Kanawha Blvd., East Sediment is the # 1 pollutant of
allowing for nutrient rich soil to not be wasted. Charleston, WV 25305-0193 West Virginia’s waterbodies and
304-558-0382
Stone Check Dam
FAX: 304-558-0373 significantly degrades water
The dam traps
sediment and larger In WV: 800-682-7866 quality. West Virginia’s sediment
debris from leaving
the site. problems result from a challenging
topography, lack of proper sediment
Vegetation
Vegetation is a key to and erosion control, and lack of proper
keeping sediment out of
streams and rivers. stormwater management. From
Through the
urbanized areas with flat terrain and a
establishment of grass,
trees, and shrubs, high population growth to very rural,
sediment is filtered and
water velocity is slowed. mountainous terrain, these issues must
be addressed specific to landscape.
 Where Does It Come From?
WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?
The main source
of pollution that
enters the rivers
and streams of
West Virginia is
sediment due to
road
construction.
Large, small,
access, and recreation roads, as
well as growth and development,
all contribute to the sediment
challenges in West Virginia.
CONSTRUCTION
The main sources of
sediment in West Virginia come
from new development, updating
and building of new highways,
roads used for various purposes,
and agriculture.
IT’S JUST A LITTLE DIRT!
Why is “muddy”
water a problem?
• QUALITY OF WATER
* Once sediment
enters the stream,
toxins, nutrients, and
other pollutants can degrade the water
quality of the stream. This has impacts
on plants, animals, and humans.
• FISH HABITAT
* Turbidity (mud) in water can clog
fish gills and cover benthic (bottom)
habitat, both of which can reduce fish
populations.
• FLOODING
* Loss of
vegetation along
streams and steep banks
allow sediment to flow
directly into streams.
FACTS
RUNOFF NUMBERS
By Volume, Sediment is
the largest water pollutant in
West Virginia. Lack of
vegetation, steep slopes and
increased runoff can cause a
thousand fold increase in the
rate of erosion.
On construction sites,
erosion rates can run into
hundreds of tons per acre. A
specific example of soil loss
within a particular watershed is
an estimated 4100 tons per year
from 155 miles of abandoned
resource extraction roads .

* Vegetation on
slopes slow water
flow, decreasing
flooding.