Sediment Control & Basin Performance
Resources on capturing sediment, improving settling, and evaluating the design and performance of sediment basins and other sediment control practices.
Sediment Control Quick Links
Extension Publications
Using Baffles to Improve Sediment Basins
Runoff on construction sites often contains large amount of soil and trapping it before it leaves the site is critical in preventing damage to streams, rivers and lakes. This factsheet describes sediment traps and basins at construction sites and agricultural operations, which provide temporary pools for runoff that allow sediment to settle before the water is discharged into water.
Fiber Check Dams and Polyacrylamide for Water Quality Improvement
This publication discusses the construction of fiber check dams on construction sites to control sediment and runoff from the site. To save money and reduce construction site impacts on nearby surface waters, how to install fiber check dams, spacing of the dams and maintenance of the dams are covered in this factsheet.
Surface Outlets for Sediment Basins
Sediment basins are temporary stormwater pools that catch runoff so it can deposit some of its sediment. The typical outlet is either a rock dam or a perforated riser barrel, both of which allow water to leave the basin from all depths. One way to improve the sediment capture rate is to use an outlet that dewaters the basin from the top of the water column where the water is cleanest. This publication describes the Faircloth skimmer, flashboard risers and other outlet configurations that accomplish this goal.
Technical Guides & Tools
- Borrow Pit Dewatering Basin
- Manning’s N
- Open Channel Flow: Tractive Force – Riprap, Mild Slope
- Open Channel Flow: Tractive Force – Synthetic Liner
- Open Channel Flow: Permissible Velocity – Vegetation
- Open Channel Flow: Tractive Force – Riprap, Steep Slope
- Plunge Pool, Submerged Outlet
- Plunge Pool, Cantilevered Outlet
- Rational Method
- Rational Method with Kinematic Wave
- Riprap Outlet Protection
- Sediment Basin Design
- Skimmer Basin Dewatering
- Spillway Capacity
Research Publications
- Impacts of flocculation on sediment basin performance and design
Kang, J., King, S. E., & McLaughlin, R. A. Transactions of the ASABE, 2014.
Evaluated how flocculation affects sediment removal and the performance and design requirements of sediment basins.
View Article → - Water quality improvements using modified sediment control systems on construction sites
McLaughlin, R. A., Hayes, S. A., Clinton, D. L., McCaleb, M. S., & Jennings, G. D. Transactions of the ASABE, 2009.
Evaluated modifications to construction site sediment control systems intended to improve runoff water quality.
View Article → - Improving construction site runoff quality with fiber check dams and polyacrylamide
McLaughlin, R. A., King, S. E., & Jennings, G. D. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 2009.
Tested fiber check dams combined with polyacrylamide as an approach for reducing sediment and improving construction site runoff quality.
View Article → - Sediment capture effectiveness of various baffle types in a sediment retention pond
Thaxton, C. S., & McLaughlin, R. A. Transactions of the ASAE, 2005.
Compared the effectiveness of different baffle configurations for improving sediment capture in retention ponds.
View Article → - The cost effectiveness of standard and alternative sediment and turbidity control systems on construction sites in North Carolina
Wossink, A., Mitasova, H., & McLaughlin, R. Water Resources Research Institute of the University of North Carolina, 2005.
Compared the performance and cost effectiveness of conventional and alternative sediment and turbidity control systems used on North Carolina construction sites.
View Report → - Hydrodynamic assessment of various types of baffles in a sediment retention pond
Thaxton, C. S., Calantoni, J., & McLaughlin, R. A. Transactions of the ASAE, 2004.
Examined how different baffle designs altered flow patterns within sediment retention ponds.
View Article → - Hydrodynamic and sediment capture assessment of various baffles in a sediment retention pond
Thaxton, C. S., & McLaughlin, R. A. ASAE/CSAE Annual International Meeting, 2004.
Assessed how different baffle configurations influenced hydraulics and sediment capture within sediment retention ponds.
View Article →
Related Demonstrations
When runoff is discharged into a sediment basin, the turbulent flow makes it nearly impossible for fine sediments to settle out before water leaves the basin. Porous baffles disperse the energy of the water, creating favorable conditions for sediment settling. Dr. McLaughlin demonstrates baffle function using a dye tracer.