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Erosion and sediment control: guidelines for soil disturbing activities

TR 2009/02
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Author: Golder Associates

About this report

This report contains Waikato Regional Council's principles and practices of erosion and sediment control for various soil disturbance activites. 

The measures and criteria outlined in these guidelines are minimum standards and in many cases higher standards may be required.

The guidelines have two main objectives:

  • To provide users with a series of comprehensive guidelines for erosion and sediment control.
  • To minimise adverse environmental effects of soil disturbing activities.

These guidelines should be used during planning for earthworks projects. They should also be used during the development of an Erosion and Sediment Control Plan for a project and during development of consent applications for earthworks projects. 

Read or download the report

Erosion and sediment control: guidelines for soil disturbing activities [PDF, 3 MB] 

Note: These guidelines were updated in 2014.

The following sections are no longer relevant:

  • 3 - Sediment Control Practices
  • 3.1 - Sediment Retention Pond
  • 3.2 - Silt Fence
  • 3.4 - Hay Bale Barrier (these are no longer considered suitable control devices)
  • 3.6 - Decanting Earth Bund

For information on any of the above items, we have a series of related and up-to-date factsheets that you can refer to. >> Click here to read or download any of the factsheets.

Contents
1 Principles 9
1.1 Factors influencing the erosion process 9
1.2 The 'Ten Commandments' of erosion and sediment control 11
1.3 Types of land disturbing activities undertaken 14
2 Erosion control practices 17
2.1 Runoff diversion channel/bund 19
2.2 Contour drain 21
2.3 Watertable drains 23
2.4 Water cut-offs 25
2.5 Watertable culverts 27
2.6 Sediment pits 29
2.7 Berm bunds 31
2.8 Benched slope 33
2.9 Rock check dam 35
2.10 Topsoil 37
2.11 Revegetation techniques 39
2.11.1 Seeding 39
2.11.2 Hydroseeding 41
2.11.3 Mulching 43
2.11.4 Turfing 45
2.12 Geosynthetic erosion control systems 47
2.13 Stabilised construction entrance 49
2.14 Pipe/flume drop structure 51
2.15 Level spreader 55
2.16 Surface roughening 57
3 Sediment control practices 59
3.1 Sediment retention pond 61
3.2 Silt fence 75
3.3 Super silt fence 79
3.4 Hay bale barrier 83
3.5 Stormwater inlet protection 85
3.6 Decanting earth bund 87
3.7 Sump/sediment pit 89
4 Works within a watercourse 91
4.1 Temporary watercourse crossings 93
 4.2 Temporary watercourse diversion 95
 4.3 Permanent watercourse crossings 99
 4.3.1 Bridges 101
 4.3.2 Culvert crossings 103
4.4 Rock outlet protection 107
5 Quarries 109
6 Vegetation removal 111
7 Glossary 115