Jaime Schussler, M.S., EIT
GRA/ GTA, Auburn University
Evaluation of Sediment Basin Performance Using Large-Scale Testing
2020-2022
Project Summary
Sediment basins are a temporary sediment control practice typically employed on construction site perimeters to detain sediment from stormwater runoff before discharge. Researchers at the Auburn University Erosion and Sediment Control Test Facility (AUESCTF) are currently examining the performance of in-channel sediment basins, which minimize the site footprint and resources, and are common in the Midwest. This project follows a field-monitoring effort of sediment basins on the highway expansion of U.S. 30 in Tama County. From field data, water samples indicated negligible turbidity and total suspended solids reduction during residence. Site basins were constructed with earthen berms in the perimeter channels to minimize site footprint and dewatered through perforated riser pipes but had no other structural components. The current project aims to quantify improvements through large-scale, controlled flow and sediment introduction testing. Treatments to the basin include (1) upstream forebay, (2) geotextile lining, (3) porous flow baffles, (4) a floating surface skimmer, (5) flocculant, and will be evaluated for the most feasible and effective combination for site implementation.
Participated from proposal until completion.
Hydraulic Performance Evaluation of Wattles used in E&SC
2019
Project Summary
Wattles have become popular practices among many governing agencies and contractors because of the variety of wattle materials available and their vast array of applications, such as ditch checks, inlet protection practices, and perimeter controls. To better understand hydraulic performance, flume experiments were conducted on eight manufactured wattles using a testing regime that used four inflow rates of and three longitudinal channel slopes. Hydraulic measurements to assess wattle performance were taken for each trial after flow stabilization. Six different fill materials (excelsior wood fiber, wheat straw, coconut coir, recycled synthetic fiber, chipped wood, and miscanthus fiber) and four containment systems (natural netting, synthetic netting, synthetic socking, and polyester socking) were evaluated. Test results indicated that wattles fall into one of four developed classes based on correlations between hydraulic depth ratios and subcritical length ratios identified in the study.
FLOODCON Product Evaluation and Development
2020-2021
Project Summary
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) permits are in place to minimize the hydromodification impacts to natural receiving waterbodies from additional urbanization and development. Stormwater quality goals focus primarily on total suspended solids (TSS), typically requiring removal of 80% of TSS from the inflow concentration of the water quality volume (WQV). The WQV is the volume of runoff targeted for treatment.
Flood-Con’s Patented Automated Flood Control (AFC) is an outlet control device designed to control the discharge from a traditional outlet control structure. The AFC functions by using measured rainfall and local site hydrologic parameters to determine and control discharge rates by automatically adjusting the release rate on an individual storm basis. This automation allows for designers to use smaller detention basins while still meeting runoff quantity goals mimicking discharge rates of pre-developed conditions. While the advantages of the AFC in controlling flow rates is known, water quality impacts are not well understood. The purpose of this review is to provide guidance on how to best evaluate the AFC for its effectiveness in providing WQV treatment.
Project Summary
The Iowa DOT has specifications, standard drawings, and guidance for the design of E&SC practices, but these practices had not been formally evaluated for field performance. This research aimed to understand the performance of current E&SC practices and enhance the design guidance available to the Iowa DOT. Silt fence ditch checks, wattle ditch protection, silt fence perimeter control, and temporary sediment control basins were monitored for performance on US 30 in Tama County, Iowa. Two modified silt fence ditch check installations had an average of 2.5 and 4 times as much sediment accumulation as a standard silt fence, the modified wattle ditch protection had 13.15 times the sediment retention of a standard wattle installation, and silt fence perimeter control modifications led to less T-post deflection and failures observed than with the standard installation. A temporary sediment control basin was monitored as a single basin and as basins in series. In the single basin, turbidity increased by an average 92 NTUs after residence in the basin, whereas the basins in series provided a turbidity reduction of 215 NTUs in the first basin and 870 NTUs in the second basin. However, the system of basins provides negligible turbidity reduction.
Final report here.
Field Monitoring of Erosion and Sediment Control Practices for the Iowa DOT
2018-2020
Project Summary
The City of Clive, IA experienced significant suburban growth and development over the last several years. Agricultural land has been and continues to be developed into residential and commercial property at a high rate. This growth placed increased runoff quantity and quality pressure on Walnut Creek, which flows through the city limits. Our research team is monitoring and assessing the runoff quantity and quality performance of post-construction stormwater management practices installed in recent City of Clive developments to quantify the benefits of a new stormwater ordinance. The objective of this proposed research is to provide monitoring of two parallel subdivisions, which were developed pre- and post-stormwater ordinance adoption. The expected outcome of this project is a quantifiable understanding of the extent of benefits provided to the Walnut Creek Watershed through the implementation of the city’s stormwater ordinance.
City of Clive Urban Stormwater Monitoring
2019-2021
Field and Laboratory Testing of Construction Site E&SC for the Nebraska DOT
Funded Proposal
Project Summary
The Nebraska DOT had specifications, standard drawings, and guidance for the design of erosion and sediment control practices required in their stormwater pollution prevention plans for compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System; however, many of these practices had not been evaluated for field performance. The objective of the proposed research was to evaluate erosion and sediment control practices through lab and field testing methods on active Nebraska DOT construction sites to determine their effectiveness in reducing erosion and capturing sediment.