Erosion & Sediment Control
Sediment Control
Sediment control is the layer of protection that captures soil already in motion before it leaves a site or reaches a water body — sediment basins, traps, check dams, and sediment tubes or wattles, working alongside perimeter controls rather than replacing them. LES designs and installs sediment control measures sized to each site's drainage area and disturbed acreage.
What’s Included
- Sediment basin and trap design and installation sized to drainage area
- Check dam installation in channels and swales
- Sediment tube and wattle placement at flow concentration points
- Coordination of sediment control with perimeter BMPs and grading phasing
- Maintenance scheduling and sediment removal
Common Failure Points
- Basins and traps undersized for the actual contributing drainage area
- Capacity that worked for early grading phases but doesn't hold as disturbed acreage grows
- Check dams spaced too far apart in channels and swales to control velocity
- Sediment left in place until basins and traps lose functional capacity
LES Field Method
- 01Size basins, traps, and check dams to the contributing drainage area at each phase
- 02Install sediment tubes or wattles at identified flow-concentration points
- 03Coordinate sediment control placement with perimeter BMPs and grading sequence
- 04Track capacity and schedule sediment removal before it's lost
- 05Photo-document installed measures and maintenance visits
Technical Notes
Sediment basin and trap sizing is tied directly to the contributing drainage area; undersized sediment control is a common reason sites pass routine inspection but still discharge visible sediment during larger storm events.
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
Sediment Control by Service Area
LES provides sediment control across Central Florida, including:
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a sediment basin and a sediment trap?
Sediment basins are larger, engineered impoundments typically required for bigger drainage areas, while sediment traps are smaller, simpler structures used for limited drainage areas or as a supplemental measure alongside other BMPs.
How is sediment control different from erosion control?
Erosion control prevents soil from becoming dislodged in the first place — stabilization, blankets, vegetation. Sediment control captures soil that's already moving before it leaves the site. A complete BMP plan uses both together.
Request a proposal for sediment control
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.