It’s winter; the ground is frozen, and there’s no erosion, right? Well, yes and no. Indeed, frozen ground conditions can severely reduce the amount of sediment-laden runoff, but it does not diminish the requirements for environmental compliance.
So, what kind of erosion and stormwater issues can you have in the winter? Well, the truth is that the winter months don’t necessarily stop any of the routine compliance issues; it just makes it more difficult, if not impossible, to maintain and stay in compliance. The biggest offender is ironically the same as the thorn in everyone’s side all year, and that’s track out! With the freeze-thaw cycle, those sunny cold days still consistently allow for track out, with the primary difficulty being how to clean frozen mud off the streets. Another big issue we face in the winter season is the maintenance of existing Best Management Practices (BMPs). Inlet protection gets frozen, blocking curb inlets and potentially causing icing/liability issues. Silt fence maintenance is nearly impossible with frozen ground. Finally, even something as simple as the Lamp Rynearson team of Stormwater Technicians can maneuver our sites safely without knowing what rills or other dangers lay in hiding under a fresh layer of snow.
All hope is not lost.
Our team of inspectors with a combined experience of over 50 years of field experience can get you through another cold midwestern winter. The issues listed above are the tip of the iceberg (pun intended), but it’s nothing we haven’t handled before. Our team is current on the latest BMPs that can and should be applied during problematic weather seasons. We have the experience to help guide our clients and contractors in even the most challenging conditions. With our entire team of inspectors being licensed droned pilots, we can transverse even the most demanding site conditions to identify potential compliance issues and work with our clients to take appropriate steps and set up a compliance plan.
In this season or any other, please feel free to reach out to our team of stormwater professionals to assist you with your stormwater compliance needs!