Erosion Control for Cranberry
Bed Development
[in Maine]
Prepared ~1996 in Cooperation with the Cranberry
Technical Workgroup
INTRODUCTION
Any time that you disturb large areas of land, there is a high risk
of erosion. Erosion of soil material may cause serious harm to water
bodies and aquatic life. Sediment can smother small plants, insects,
and fish eggs. Sediment can also damage gills, and alter water chemistry
causing fish kills. The loss of a substantial amount of soil materials
results in higher project costs, and additional labor in repairs and reconstruction.
Proper planning for your project is critical.
The Cranberry Technical Workgroup encourages you to seek professional
assistance during the planning and construction stages of your project.
This guide was prepared in cooperation with the workgroup and is intended
to be used as general guidance for small cranberry developments.
Although the general principles apply to larger projects, additional professional
help may be required to insure that proper erosion controls are implemented.
If you are using United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding,
you may be subject to stricter Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)
standards and specifications for erosion control. Please contact
the nearest USDA office for their standards and specifications.
The Department of Environmental Protection would like to thank the members
of the Cranberry Technical Workgroup for their assistance in the preparation
of this guide. The workgroup consisted of the following members:
Charles Armstrong, Down
East RC&D, Cherryfield, Maine (now with UMaine
Cooperative Extension in Orono)
Stacie Beyer, DEP,
Office in Bangor, Maine
Dean Bradshaw, Private Engineer
& Cranberry Grower, Washington County
Roland Dupuis, NRCS, Hancock County
Judy & Dick Farnsworth, Cranberry Growers, Washington County
Dave Garcelon, NRCS, Washington County
Laurence Grant, President of Maine
Cranberry Growers Assn., Washington County
John Harker, Maine
Dept. of Agric. Food & Rural Resources, Augusta
Nancy Holmes, Cranberry Grower, Washington County
David Roque, Maine
Dept. of Agric. Food & Rural Resources, Augusta
Ken Libbey, DEP, Office in
Bangor, Maine
Timothy Look, Cranberry Grower, Washington County
Alden Mingo, Cranberry Grower, Washington County
Dana Nelson, Down East RC&D,
Cherryfield, Maine
PLANNING
For erosion control, pre-construction planning may be the most critical
step. Please read this section and consider all suggestions before
beginning your project.
Timing the work properly can prevent many erosion problems. The
cost of the project and the difficulties in controlling sediment loss escalate
if the timing is not appropriate. This can not be stressed enough.
Plan to have all resources, including funding, available for an
appropriate start date. Some suggestions to consider include:
-
Conduct earth work during the dry season. In clay soils, the best
time may be late June through September 15. Constructing the project
during other times of the year may result in a considerable amount of erosion
and re-work. No earth work should occur after October 15.
-
Do not conduct earth work when soils are saturated or frozen. To
tell if soils are too wet for construction, try this test developed in
part for the Maine State Plumbing Code: Soil is too saturated when:
1) squeezing a handful of soil from the activity area results in free water
dripping from the sample; or 2) rolling out a lump of soil from the activity
area with your fingers, the soil forms a wire or rod 1/8th of an inch in
diameter that does not crumble when handled.
-
Have all erosion control materials on site, and installed if appropriate,
before earth work begins.
-
Watch the weather. Minimize disturbing additional areas if rain or
snow is forecast and make sure you have erosion controls in place and functioning
properly before a storm. Also, mulch disturbed areas as much as possible
before the storm.
-
The amount of ground disturbed at one time should be minimized to the fullest
extent possible. The smaller the area, the easier it is to control.
One area should be stabilized before the next area is opened.
-
Consider diverting water coming from off-site around the construction area
so the amount of runoff across the site is limited.
-
Construct your tail-water recovery pond first. The pond can
act as a sediment basin during construction. This can also save some
labor and materials because the soil excavated from the pond may be suitable
for use in the berms.
For more guidance on timing for cranberry bed development, see the "Cranberry
Production Time Line" included with the 1997 revised edition of the
"Cranberry Agriculture in Maine: A Grower's Guide."
S U M M A R Y T A B L E
|
PROBLEMS
|
SOLUTIONS
|
|
Clay soils
|
Develop guidance specific to clay soils and cranberry development |
|
Fill (versus native soil)
|
Compact fill properly;
Bed anti-seep collars in native soil if possible |
Roads on berms
with wheel ruts
|
Crown roadways with parent material |
|
Compaction
|
Compact dike properly using NRCS specifications (options available) |
|
Outlet failure
|
Develop installation procedure:
-
use anti-seep collar
-
seal collar to culvert
-
bed in native soil if possible
-
compact fill around culvert
-
use bentonite
|
|
Slope stability
|
Design berms with >1' freeboard;
Compact fill properly;
Vegetate/mulch slope;
Anchor mulch |
|
Pipe sizing
|
Develop sizing chart for growers |
|
Seeding practices
|
Develop seeding practices:
-
options for seed mixes
-
options for anchoring: 1) chopped hay 2) jute mat
3) hydroseed 4) cyclgro
-
seed bed enhancement
Develop material suppliers list |
| Construction sequencing |
Develop recommended sequence;
Construct during dry season |
Table developed from Cranberry Technical Work Group
meeting, July 15, 1996
Take a look at what you get with the actual
Erosion Control Guide:
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
PLANNING
RESOURCES
SUPPLIES
MDOT
Vendor Sources for Erosion Control Materials
A SUMMARY OF COMPOSTING IN MAINE
CONSTRUCTION
-
Sediment Barriers
-
Topsoil Stockpiles
-
Construction of a Hay Bale Barrier (USDA / NRCS)
-
Stone Check Dam (Virginia SWCC)
-
Compost Filter Berm
-
Dike Construction:
1) Materials
2) Foundation Preparation
3) Placement
4) Moisture Content
5) Compaction
1) Culvert Sizing
2) Outlet Installation Procedures
-
Dikes and Roadways
-
Cranberry Pond Outlet #1
-
Cranberry Pond Outlet #2
PERMANENT EROSION CONTROL
1) Seed and Mulch
2) Compost
3) Cost Comparisons
-
Late Fall Construction
-
Outlet Protection
-
Detail of Culvert Outlet Protection (full flow non-pressure)
-
Open Type Level Spreader (USDA / NRCS)
CONCLUSION
To order the COMPLETE Erosion Control Guide,
contact the Maine
DEP.
Erosion Control
First Posted 11/14/1997
If you have comments or questions about this page,
contact Charles Armstrong at: charlesa@umext.maine.edu
Putting
knowledge to work with the people of Maine
