A temporary erosion control barrier made of geotextile fabric that filters sediment from stormwater runoff during construction activities.

A silt fence is a temporary erosion control barrier made of geotextile fabric that filters sediment from stormwater runoff during construction activities, serving as a critical environmental protection measure that prevents soil erosion and protects water quality in nearby streams, lakes, and other water bodies. This essential construction site management tool consists of a permeable fabric barrier supported by posts that allows water to pass through while trapping sediment and debris, creating a physical barrier that slows water flow and promotes settling of suspended particles. Silt fences are fundamental components in stormwater pollution prevention plans where they provide temporary sediment control during earth-disturbing activities, making them required elements for environmental compliance and water quality protection in construction projects where soil disturbance could impact surrounding water resources and ecosystems.

Silt fences are utilized in various construction and site development applications including residential construction sites where they protect against sediment runoff from grading, excavation, and building activities, commercial and industrial development projects where large-scale earth moving requires comprehensive erosion control, road construction and infrastructure projects where linear disturbances create extensive runoff potential, utility installation projects where trenching and excavation disturb soil along corridors, mining and quarry operations where material extraction creates significant erosion potential, and agricultural applications where field preparation and construction activities require temporary sediment control. Each application requires appropriate fence design, placement, and maintenance based on site conditions and regulatory requirements.

The design and construction of silt fences include geotextile fabric selection using woven or non-woven materials with appropriate filtration characteristics and strength properties, support post systems using wood or metal stakes driven into the ground at specified intervals, fabric attachment methods that secure the geotextile to posts while maintaining proper tension, trenching requirements where the bottom of the fabric is buried in a shallow trench to prevent undermining, end treatments that prevent water from flowing around fence ends, and maintenance access considerations that allow for inspection and sediment removal. Proper design ensures effective sediment capture while allowing controlled water flow.

Fun Fact: Silt fences were first developed in the 1970s as environmental regulations began requiring construction sites to control sediment runoff, and they have since become one of the most widely used erosion control measures worldwide.

• Rail (Stair or Fence)
• Yard Fence