Erosion & Sediment Control
Storm Drain Inlet Protection
Every storm drain inlet downstream of disturbed soil is a direct pathway for sediment to leave a construction site and enter the stormwater conveyance system. LES installs inlet protection sized and selected to the inlet type — curb inlets, grate inlets, and drop inlets — and to the drainage area and expected flow at each structure.
What’s Included
- Drainage-area assessment for each inlet on site
- Fabric drop-inlet barrier installation for curb and grate inlets
- Block-and-gravel filter installation for higher-flow structures
- Inlet protection sock and sediment trap installation as conditions require
- Maintenance and sediment removal scheduling tied to site inspection cycles
Common Failure Points
- Wrong protection method for the inlet's drainage area — a fabric sock undersized for a high-flow grate inlet
- Sediment allowed to build up until the structure bypasses or surcharges instead of filtering
- Protection installed once and never re-checked as grading changes the contributing drainage area
- Damaged or displaced barriers left in place after a storm instead of reset immediately
LES Field Method
- 01Assess each inlet's drainage area and expected flow before selecting a method
- 02Install fabric drop-inlet barriers, block-and-gravel filters, or socks matched to that flow
- 03Tie inlet inspection into the site's routine and post-rain inspection schedule
- 04Remove sediment and reset displaced barriers as part of that same visit
- 05Photo-document each structure at install and at every maintenance check
Technical Notes
Inlet protection method selection matters: fabric drop-inlet barriers, block-and-gravel filters, and inlet protection socks each perform differently under flow, and using the wrong method for the drainage area is a common reason inlet protection fails during a significant storm event rather than during routine inspection.
Installed. Maintained. Documented.
Every installation, repair, or maintenance visit is photo-documented in the field — so the work holds up under inspection, not just under a good-faith assumption.
- Before, during, and completed-work photos
- Field maintenance notes
- Post-rain observations
- Corrective action tracked through to close-out
- Documentation-ready reports for your compliance file
Related Services
Inlet Protection by Service Area
LES provides inlet protection across Central Florida, including:
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between inlet protection methods?
Fabric drop-inlet barriers work well for lower-flow curb and grate inlets, while block-and-gravel filters handle higher flow without blowing out. The right method depends on the inlet's drainage area and expected flow, not a default choice.
How often should inlet protection be inspected?
Inlet protection should be checked on the same routine and post-rain-event inspection schedule as the rest of the site's BMPs, with sediment removed before it reduces capacity or causes bypass.
Request a proposal for inlet protection
Tell us about your site and timeline — we'll follow up with scope and next steps.
Need erosion control, silt fence, BMP maintenance, or post-rain inspection support? Call 407-502-6476 or request a BMP proposal from Local Environmental Services.
