Erosion Control for Home Builders in the City of Jacksonville Eroding construction sites are a leading cause of water quality problems in Jacksonville. For every acre under construction, about a dump truck and a half of soil washes into a nearby ditch or stream unless the builder uses erosion controls. Problems caused by this sediment include: Taxes o Cleaning up sediment in streets, storm sewers and ditches add extra costs to local government budgets. Lower property values o Neighboring property values are damaged when a ditch or stream fills with sediment. Shallow areas encourage weed growth and create drainage hazards. Nuisance growth of weeds and algae o Sediment carries fertilizers that fuel algae and weed growth. Dredging o The expense of dredging sediment from ditches and streams is paid for by the taxpayers. The City of Jacksonville has adopted the Stormwater Pollution Prevention and Erosion Control Ordinance (Ord. #I367 10-09). You can find the ordinance on the City of Jacksonville's web site at www.citvofiacksonville.net under the City Clerks page under the heading Ordinances and Resolutions. This fact sheet includes the diagrams and step-by-step instructions needed by builders on most home sites. Additional controls may be needed for sites that have steep slopes, are adjacent to streams, receive a lot of runoff from adjacent land, or are larger than one acre.
EROSION CONTROL PRACTICES FOR HOME SITES Silt Fence or alternative BMP's approved by the City of Jacksonville Install within 24 Hours of land disturbance. Install on down slope sides of site parallel to contour of the land. Extended ends upslope enough to allow water to pond behind fence. Bury eight inches of fabric in trench (see back page). Overlap sections of silt fence, or twist ends of silt fence together. Inspect and repair at least twice per month and within (24) hours after a rainfall of '/2 inch or more. Remove sediment if deposits reach half the fence height. Maintain until a lawn is established. Soil Piles Cover with plastic and locate away from any down slope street, driveway, stream, ditch or drainage way. Temporary seed such as annual rye or winter wheat is recommended for topsoil piles. Access Drive Install an access drive using two-to-three inch aggregate prior to placing the first floor decking on foundation. Lay stone six inches deep and at least seven feet wide from the foundation to the street (or 50 feet if less). Use to prevent tracking mud onto the road by all vehicles. Maintain throughout construction. In clay soils, use of geotextile under the stone is recommended.
Sediment Cleanup By the end of each work day, sweep or scrape up soil tracked unto the road. By the end of the next work day after a storm, clean up soil washed off-site. Sewer Inlet Protection 1, Protect on-site storm sewer inlets with straw bales, silt fences or equivalent measures. Inspect, repair and remove sediment deposits after every storm. Downspout Extenders Not required, but highly recommended. Install as soon as gutters and downspouts are completed to prevent erosion from roof runoff. Use plastic drainage pipe to route water to a grassed or paved area. Once a lawn is established, direct runoff to the lawn or other pervious areas. Maintain until a lawn is established. Preserving Existing Vegetation Wherever possible, preserve existing trees, shrubs and other vegetation. To prevent root damage, do not grade, place soil piles, or park vehicles near trees marked for preservation. Place plastic mesh or snow fence barriers around trees to protect the root area below their branches. Revegetation Seed, sod or mulch bare soil as soon as possible. Vegetation is the most effective way to control erosion.
Seeding and Mulching Spread four to six inches of topsoil. Fertilize and lime if needed according to soil test (or apply 101b. 1100 sq. ft. of 10-10-10 fertilizer). Seed with an appropriate mix for the site (see table). Rake lightly to cover seed with %" of soil. Roll lightly. Mulch with straw (70-90 Ib. or one bale per 1000 sq. ft.). Anchor mulch by punching into the soil, watering, or by using nettings or other measures on steep slopes. Water gently every day or two to keep soil moist. Less watering is needed once grass is two inches tall.
City of Jacksonville Flood Protection Information Flooding in our city is caused by two sources the Bayou Meto and Jacks Bayou. When 3 they leave their banks during heavy storms floodwaters can cover many blocks up to four or five feet deep. Although floodwaters are not always this deep they still cover streets and yards and can -- flood cars, garages, basements and lower floors. Flooding in these areas can occur with little warning. After heavy rains in December of 2009, and May of 2011, Jacks Bayou flooded Highway 671167 and John Harden Drive. The Bayou Meto flooded Highway 671167, Dupree Park and the one lane bridge on West Main Street putting the park and bridge out of commission for a day or two. In addition to closing parks and bridges, floods are also dangerous. Even though they appear to move slowly (three feet per second), a flood two feet deep can knock a man off his feet and float a car. Your property may be high enough that it was not flooded recently; however, it can still be flooded in the future because the next flood could be worse. If you are in the floodplain, the odds are that someday your property will be damaged. This flyer gives you some ideas of what you can do to protect yourself. City Flood Services: The first thing you should do is check your flood hazard. Flood maps and flood protection references are available at the Jacksonville Public Library, or you can visit the Engineering Department at City Hall to see if you are in a mapped floodplain. They can give you more information such as depth of flooding and past flood problems in the area If an Elevation Certificate was filed, they can make copies for you. If requested, someone from the Engineering Department will visit your property to review its flood problem and explain ways to stop flooding or prevent flood damage. They can be contacted at 982-6071, and the service is free. What You Can Do: The ( in their efforts to control flooding in our community depends on your cooperation am assistance. Here are ways you can help: Do not place debris into our storm water drainage system. This includes but is not limited to ditches, streams, curb and gutters. Placing debris in our storm water drainage system is a violation of Jacksonville City Ordinance 549 and Jacksonville Municipal Code 12.24.120. Even grass clippings and branches can accumulate and plug channels. A plugged channel cannot carry water and when it rains the water has to go somewhere. Every piece of trash contributes to flooding. If your property is next to a storm water drainage system, please do your part and keep the drainage system clear of brush and debris. The City has a drainage system maintenance program which can help remove major blockages such as downed trees. If you see dumping or debris in our storm water drainage system, contact the Engineering Department at 982-607 1. Always check with the Engineering Department before you build, alter, regrade, or fill on your property. A permit may be needed to ensure that projects do not create problems on neighboring properties. If you see building or filling without a City permit sign posted, contact the Engineering Department at 982-607 1.