Erosion and sediment control Topsoil Salvage – Retention of topsoil and associated indigenous seed bank and soil microbiota is fundamental to site restoration and reducing site rehabilitation costs. All topsoil should be salvaged and re-spread as soon as possible following soil disturbance. Proper protection/storage of topsoil is essential until respreading occurs. Topsoil should be covered to protect it from soil ablation and degradation of soil biota. If a highly-structured soil exists on the site, soil removal will entail horizon/sub-horizon separation. Minimize earth movement - Confine construction to the most level portions of the site. Keep disturbed areas small. Avoid steep slopes and highly erodible soils – Leaving such areas undisturbed minimizes the need for costly control measures and the potential for property damage and water pollution. Aim to design impact on slopes no steeper than 3:1. Align roads along contours – Runoff down roadways is a common cause of erosion problems. Aligning roads along contours minimizes the velocity of roadway runoff. In addition, such alignment can blend into the landscape without being visually obtrusive. Retain natural vegetation whenever feasible – Vegetation is the most effective form of erosion control. Saving and salvaging vegetation will reduce the need for construction of costly structural controls, such as sediment basins and concrete-lined channels. Vegetate and mulch denuded areas – Mulch helps protect the soil until vegetation is established and improves the rate of seedling establishment. Divert runoff away from denuded areas – When vegetative cover is removed from a slope, the slope becomes highly susceptible to erosion. Only the runoff from rain that falls directly on the disturbed slope should be allowed to cross it. Divert upslope runoff away to a stable outlet. | 
>