2. Permanent Seeding
a. Topsoil installation shall be completed prior to permanent seeding.
b. Permanent seeding requires a seedbed of loose topsoil to a minimum depth of 4 inches with the ability to support a dense vegetative cover.
c. Application rates of fertilizer or lime shall be based on soil testing results.
d. Prepare a tilled, fine, but firm seedbed. Remove rocks, twigs foreign material and clods over two inches that cannot be broken down.
e. The soil shall have a pH range of 5.5 to 8.0.
B. Seeding
1. Seed Selection
a. Seed mixtures that will produce dense vegetation shall be selected based on soil and site conditions and intended final use. Section IX References, lists sources containing suggested seed mixtures.
b.
All seed shall conform to the requirements of the Wisconsin Statutes and of the Administrative Code Chapter
ATCP 20.01 regarding noxious weed seed content and labeling.
c. Seed mixtures that contain potentially invasive species or species that may be harmful to native plant communities shall be avoided.
d. Seed shall not be used later than one year after the test date that appears on the label.
e. Seed shall be tested for purity, germination and noxious weed seed content and shall meet the minimum purity and germination requirements as prescribed in the current edition of Rules for Testing Seed, published by the Association of Official Seed Analysts.
2. Seed Rates
a. Temporary Seeding (Cover Crop)
Areas needing protection during periods when permanent seeding is not applied shall be seeded with annual species for temporary protection. See Table 1 for seeding rates of commonly used species. The residue from this crop may either be incorporated into the soil during seedbed preparation at the next permanent seeding period or left on the soil surface and the planting made as a no-till seeding.
Table 1
b. Permanent Seeding
Rates shall be based on pounds or ounces of Pure Live Seed (PLS) per acre. Section IX contains some possible reference documents that provide seeding rates. Permanent seeding rates may be increased above the minimum rates shown in the reference documents to address land use and environmental conditions.
If a nurse crop is used in conjunction with permanent seeding, the nurse crop shall not hinder establishment of the permanent vegetation.
A nurse crop shall be applied at 50% its temporary seeding rate when applied with permanent seed.
3. Inoculation
Legume seed shall be inoculated in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. Inoculants shall not be mixed with liquid fertilizer.
4. Sowing
Seed grasses and legumes no more than ¼ inch deep. Distribute seed uniformly. Mixtures with low seeding rates require special care in sowing to achieve proper seed distribution.
Seed may be broadcast, drilled, or hydroseeded as appropriate for the site.
Seed when soil temperatures remain consistently above 53° F. Dormant seed when the soil temperature is consistently below 53° F (typically Nov. 1st until snow cover). Seed shall not be applied on top of snow.
VI. Considerations
A. Consider seeding at a lower rate and making two passes to ensure adequate coverage.
B. Compacted soil areas may need special site preparation prior to seeding to mitigate compaction. This may be accomplished by chisel plowing to a depth of 12 inches along the contour after heavy equipment has left the site.
C. Sod may be considered where adequate watering is available.
D.
When working in riparian areas refer to the NRCS Engineering Field Handbook, Chapter
16, Streambank and Shoreline Protection and Chapter
18,
Soil Bioengineering for Upland Slope Protection and Erosion Reduction.
E. A site assessment should be conducted to evaluate soil characteristics, topography, exposure to sunlight, proximity to natural plant communities, proximity to nuisance, noxious and/or invasive species, site history, moisture regime, climatic patterns, soil fertility, and previous herbicide applications.
F. Use introduced species only in places where they will not spread into existing natural areas.
G. Lightly roll or compact the area using suitable equipment when the seedbed is judged to be too loose, or if the seedbed contains clods that might reduce seed germination.
H. See Section IX. References for suggested seed mixes (NRCS, WisDOT, UWEX) or use their equivalent.
I. Turf seedlings should not be mowed until the stand is at least 6 inches tall. Do not mow closer than 3 inches during the first year of establishment.
J. Seeding should not be done when the soil is too wet.
K. Consider watering to help establish the seed. Water application rates shall be controlled to prevent runoff and erosion.
L. Prairie plants may not effectively provide erosion control during their establishment period without a nurse crop.
M. Topsoil originating from agricultural fields may contain residual chemicals. The seedbed should be free of residual herbicide or other contaminants that will prevent establishment and maintenance of vegetation. Testing for soil contaminants may be appropriate if there is doubt concerning the soil's quality.
N. Consider using mulch or a nurse crop if selected species are not intended for quick germination. When mulching refer to WDNR Conservation Practice Standard Mulching for Construction Sites (1058).
VIl. Plans and Specifications
Plans and specifications for seeding shall be in keeping with this standard and shall describe the requirements for applying this practice.
All plans, standard detail drawings, or specifications shall include schedule for installation, inspection, and maintenance. The responsible party shall be identified.
VlIl. Operation and Maintenance
A. During construction areas that have been seeded shall at a minimum be inspected weekly and within 24 hours after every precipitation event that produces 0.5 inches of rain or more during a 24-hour period. Inspect weekly during the growing season until vegetation is densely established or permit expires. Repair and reseed areas that have erosion damage as necessary.
B. Limit vehicle traffic and other forms of compaction in areas that are seeded.
C. A fertilizer program should begin with a soil test. Soil tests provide specific fertilizer recommendations for the site and can help to avoid over-application of fertilizers.
IX. References
A. Seed Selection References
United States Department of Agriculture – Natural Resource Conservation Service Field Office Technical Guide Section IV, Standard 342, Critical Area Planting.
UWEX Publication A3434 Lawn and Establishment & Renovation.
WisDOT, 2003. State of Wisconsin Standard Specifications For Highway and Structure Construction. Section 630, Seeding.
B. General References
Metropolitan Council, 2003. Urban Small Sites Best Management Practice Manual, Chapter
3, Vegetative Methods 3-85 – 3-91. Minneapolis.
The State of Wisconsin list of noxious weeds can be found in Statute 66.0407.
United States Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service. Engineering Field Handbook, Chapters
16 and
18.
UWEX Publication GWQ002 Lawn & Garden Fertilizers.
X. Definitions
Dense (V.A.2.b) A stand of 3-inch high grassy vegetation that uniformly covers at least 70% of a representative 1 square yard plot.
Dormant seed (V.B.4): Seed is applied after climatic conditions prevent germination until the following spring.
Introduced Species (VI.F) Plant species that historically would not have been found in North America until they were brought here by travelers from other parts of the world. This would include smooth bromegrass and alfalfa. Some of these species may have a wide distribution such as Kentucky bluegrass.
Nurse Crop (V.B.2.b): Also known as a companion crop; is the application of temporary (annual) seed with permanent seed.
Permanent seeding (II) Seeding designed to minimize erosion for an indefinite period after land disturbing construction activities have ceased on the site.
Soil Bioengineering (VI.D) Practice of combining mechanical, biological and ecological concepts to arrest and prevent shallow slope failures and erosion.
Temporary Seeding (II) Seeding designed to control erosion for a time period of one year or less that is generally removed in order to perform further construction activities or to permanently stabilize a construction site.
Topsoil (V.A.2.a) Consists of loam, sandy loam, silt loam, silty clay or clay loam humus-bearing soils adapted to sustain plant life with a pH range of 5.5 – 8.0. Manufactured topsoil shall through the addition of sand or organic humus material, peat, manure or compost meet the above criteria.
Silt Fence
1056 (03/06)
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Conservation Practice Standard
Note: Words in the standard that are shown in italics are described in X. Definitions. The words are italicized the first time they are used.
I. Definition
Silt fence is a temporary sediment barrier of entrenched permeable geotextile fabric designed to intercept and slow the flow of sediment-laden sheet flow runoff from small areas of disturbed soil.
II. Purpose
The purpose of this practice is to reduce slope length of the disturbed area and to intercept and retain transported sediment from disturbed areas.
III. Conditions Where Practice Applies
A. This standard applies to the following applications:
1. Erosion occurs in the form of sheet and rill erosion1. There is no concentration of water flowing to the barrier
(channel erosion).
2. Where adjacent areas need protection from sediment-laden runoff.
3. Where effectiveness is required for one year or less.
4. Where conditions allow for silt fence to be properly entrenched and staked as outlined in the Criteria Section V.
B. Under no circumstance shall silt fence be used in the following applications:
1. Below the ordinary high watermark or placed perpendicular to flow in streams, swales, ditches or any place where flow is concentrated.
2. Where the maximum gradient upslope of the fence is greater than 50% (2:1).
IV. Federal, State, and Local Laws
