Month: July 2025

Construction General Permit

Construction General Permit

Construction General Permit

07/04/25

“How do U.S. states regulate stormwater pollution runoff from construction activity?”

Construction activities create pollution that stormwater can pick up and dump into surface waters. U.S. States use stormwater permits to keep their water bodies clean. Construction activities that meet certain criteria must obtain a Construction General Permit from the state environmental regulatory agency before starting work. Construction general permits are part of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).

Silt Fences

Silt Fences

Silt Fences

07/03/25

“How can we put up barriers to temporarily protect water bodies from construction stormwater sediment runoff?”

Construction stormwater runoff can devastate nearby water bodies. Construction operators must take best management practices to protect water bodies as part of stormwater pollution prevention plans. One approach is to build temporary Silt Fences around the perimeter of construction projects to stop sediment runoff from leaving the development area. Silt fences have a special fabric that allows water to pass through while trapping pollutants. Operators should install silt fences in trenches to keep them stabilized. 

Image credit https://globalsynthetics.com.au/

Permaculture

Permaculture

Permaculture

07/02/25

“How can we take inspiration from nature to create sustainable land management practices?”

Modern day land management in most of the world is extractive and unsustainable. Whether it’s destroying the water cycle through concretizing cities, extracting too much groundwater from aquifers to grow almonds, or cutting down forests to encourage suburban sprawl, there are so many things wrong. To build a more sustainable system, we can replicate circular processes found in nature to provide humans with the landscapes, food, energy, and other systems we need. Many circles have termed this practice Permaculture, and it holds the potential to reshape how we interact with the wider world.

Grading (Construction)

Grading (Construction)

Grading (Construction)

07/01/25

“How can we shape a landscape’s slope to suit our construction needs?”

People may want certain landscape slopes for their construction projects. For example, a developer may want to flatten out a piece of land to make the foundation more stable, or a stormwater engineer might recommend that a community build a meandering path to allow for better drainage. People can accomplish these tasks through Grading, where the land surface is reshaped to accomplish specific criteria.