Table of contents
- How to Protect the Environment & Your Project
- 1. Why Erosion Control Matters
- 2. Understand Local & State Regulations
- 3. Effective Erosion Control Measures That Work
- 4. Stormwater Management Is Year-Round
- 5. Preserve Vegetation If Possible
- 6. Erosion Control & Wetland Disturbance Needs Close Attention
- 7. Hire a Contractor Who Knows Local Conditions
- How Construction Solutions, Inc. Can Help
- Protect Your Project — Stay Compliant
How to Protect the Environment & Your Project
Whether you’re building a new home addition, commercial site, or updating your yard, erosion control and stormwater management are more than just boxes to check — they’re required by local and state laws and help protect your project (and the environment) from costly damage.
Yearly, over 1 billion tons of top soil is lost due to erosion. Which costs the United States 37.6 Billion a year in productivity costs. You can do your part by mitigating loss during construction projects which will help during and after your project.
Here’s what you should know about proper erosion control and stormwater planning in New England.
1. Why Erosion Control Matters
When you disturb soil during excavation or grading land, rainwater can wash sediment into nearby streets, wetlands, or storm drains — harming local water quality, wildlife and infrastructure.
Erosion can also undermine your foundations, cause flooding, and lead to fines or stop-work orders if you’re not in compliance.
2. Understand Local & State Regulations
State regulations as well as most towns require stormwater management plans and erosion control measures for:
- New residential home construction & additions
- Subdivisions & site development
- Commercial builds & parking lots
- Septic system installation near wetlands
- Grading or backfilling of a yard.
Permits often involve working with the local Conservation Commission or Board of Health.
Skipping these steps will shut down your project, and create costly delays and red tape. Your contractor should be working closely with your architect or engineer for this process.
3. Effective Erosion Control Measures That Work
Depending on your site project or development, your contractor may install:
- Silt fences & sediment barriers: Keep disturbed soil from washing off-site
- Erosion control blankets: Stabilize slopes until vegetation grows back
- Check dams: Slow water flow in drainage ditches
- Construction entrances: Prevent trucks from tracking mud onto roads
- Stormwater basins & swales: Manage runoff on large sites
The right measures protect your investment and keep you in good standing with your town or city.
4. Stormwater Management Is Year-Round
In New England, seasonal weather adds challenges — heavy spring rain, frozen winter ground, and melting snow can all impact drainage.
Proper grading and drainage design from day one, helps avoid flooding and/or erosion down the road.
5. Preserve Vegetation If Possible
Maintaining existing trees and ground cover can help mitigate erosion on your land. Roots from trees and plants help absorb water and hold soil in place.
6. Erosion Control & Wetland Disturbance Needs Close Attention
Working near protected areas such as water ways and wetlands have both state and federal regulations. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) dictates federal regulations with the Clean Water Act and the Rivers & Harbor Act.
Depending on your sites location and specific needs is how mitigation needs to be handled.
Common Solutions involve three strategies:
- Avoid the Area – Stay outside the federal, state, and local buffer zone
- Minimize Disruption – Obtain the proper permit and approvals from the conservation commission, and minimize any disruption
- Mitigate Impacts – if avoidance and minimizing cannot be done, obtain proper permitting and approval, which will depend on creating new wetlands and shifting water shedding to another location.
7. Hire a Contractor Who Knows Local Conditions
Every lot is different. A good site development contractor:
- Knows local codes and permitting requirements
- Uses the right erosion control techniques for your soil type and slope
- Monitors and maintains controls throughout the job
- Keeps your project moving forward safely and legally
Recommended Reading: “Everything You Need to Know about Commercial Construction Before You Build”
How Construction Solutions, Inc. Can Help
At Construction Solutions, Inc., we help homeowners, developers, and commercial clients stay compliant and protect their properties across New England.
We handle excavation, grading, erosion control, and stormwater management for projects of all sizes throughout MA, NH, and ME.
Our team works closely throughout your project to make sure your site stays compliant — and safe — from start to finish.
Protect Your Project — Stay Compliant
Planning a build?
Don’t overlook erosion control.