Identifying Opportunities to Improve Temporary Sediment Basin

Temporary sediment basins are used to control the release of sediment laden stormwater runoff from active construction sites. If temporary sediment basins are constructed according to specifications, it is expected that 60% of sediment will be trapped by the sediment basin. Nonetheless, sediment basins can perform poorly in several instances such as in successive storm events, at sites with fine-grained soils, or due to maintenance issues. Releases of sediment laden stormwater runoff from construction sites can negatively impact the environment and require costly and sometimes time-consuming corrective actions. This project will identify common issues with sediment basins in Virginia and determine potential alternative designs to evaluate for future use in Virginia. First, interviews of Virginia’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System and Environmental Compliance Inspectors as well as personnel from other state departments of transportation (DOTs) will be conducted. Interviews will provide insights into potential common issues with sediment basins as well as opportunities for knowledge transfer. Then, select active sediment basins will be observed to better understand design limitations and contractor installation and maintenance practices. This research benefits the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) by identifying potential sediment basin design shortcomings in Virginia, possible design modifications, and potential opportunities for knowledge transfer. This research also establishes a basis for future research on potential temporary sediment basin design modifications to improve their performance.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $209,437.00
• Contract Numbers:

  128164

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Virginia Transportation Research Council

  530 Edgemont Road
  Charlottesville, VA  United States  22903
• Performing Organizations:

  Virginia Transportation Research Council

  530 Edgemont Road
  Charlottesville, VA  United States  22903
• Principal Investigators:

  Rossetti, Maria

  Lloyd, Lewis

• Start Date: 20250723
• Expected Completion Date: 20270331
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Construction sites; Detention basins; Runoff; Sediment discharge; Sediments
• Geographic Terms: Virginia
• Subject Areas: Construction; Environment; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Maintenance and Preservation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01961957
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Virginia Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: 128164
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jul 27 2025 10:41AM