Erosion Control Issues at 1508 Bluebonnet Lane, Austin, Texas

  Event 15 - 17 Sep 2016 event (no erosion controls)
  Event 14 - 11 Sep 2016 event (no erosion controls)
  Event 13 - 05 Sep 2016 event (no erosion controls)
  Event 12 - 20 Aug 2016 event (extreme erosion)
  Event 11 - 16 Aug 2016 event (extreme erosion)
  Event 10 - 15 Aug 2016 event (extreme erosion)
  Event 9 - 14 Aug 2016 event (extreme erosion)
  Event 8 - 13 Aug 2016 event (inadequate erosion controls)
  Event 7 - 25 Jul 2016 event (inadequate erosion controls)
  Event 6 - 28 Jun 2016 event (inadequate erosion controls)
  Event 5 - 14 Jun 2016 event (inadequate erosion controls)
  Event 4 - 27 May 2016 event (inadequate erosion controls)
  Event 3 - 22 May 2016 event (inadequate erosion controls)
  Event 2 - 30 Apr 2016 event (inadequate erosion controls)
  Event 1 - 13 Apr 2016 event (no erosion controls)

This site is in the Barton Springs Zone. The builder has refused to put in controls that are acceptable under the City of Austin Environmental Criteria Manual (ECM). First, they used hay bales and later they used straw wattles. The failure to install acceptable controls resulted in a great amount of sediment leaving the site during rainfall events. If it rains, this will occur again unless the City actually enforces the criteria in the ECM. The only effective controls for this site have been for it not to rain. This site has been reported to the City 10 times: 14 Apr 2016, 02 May 2016, 22 May 2016, 28 Jun 2016, 27 Jul 2016, 13 Aug 2016, 14 Aug 2016, 21 Aug 2016, 05 Sep 2016, and 19 Sep 2016.

The events below are in reverse chronological order from most recent to earliest.




Event 15 - 17 Sep 2016 (no erosion controls)

Even if straw wattles were considered effective erosion controls (which the City of Austin Watershed Protection Department does not), these straw wattles would not work because they would funnel all of the runoff to the gaps. Reported to the City on September 19, 2016.

Photo 1 (only straw wattle controls; along Ashby) Photo 2 (gap in straw wattles; along Ashby)
 
 
 
Photo 3 (gap in straw wattles; along Ashby)  
 
 




Event 14 - 11 Sep 2016 (inappropriate erosion controls)

This builder is now using straw wattles to protect against erosion. The City’s Watershed Protection Department won’t even provide specifications in their Environmental Criteria Manual (ECM) because they say they don’t work. Quoting the City Watershed Protection Department:

"Moving on the design criteria for specific E&S controls, the ECM contains the controls that are acceptable to meet the LDC as well as installation and design guidance. Straw wattles are not listed as acceptable controls in the ECM because they do not provide robust control of the 2-year storm as required in the ECM. Instead, the ECM provides design and installation guidance for Mulch Socks. Similar to Straw Wattles in shape and purpose, Mulch Socks are larger and more robust, able to quantitatively provide on-site control of the 2-year storm erosion when installed and maintained properly. COA does not anticipate adding criteria for Straw Wattles due to their limited effectiveness."

The City staff responsible for enforcement of the erosion control ordinances are not recognizing the Watershed Protection Department's conclusion because they are allowing straw wattles to be used as an acceptable erosion control BMP even though they are not.

Photo 1 (along Bluebonnet) Photo 2 (along Ashby)
 
 




Event 13 - 05 Sep 2016 (no erosion controls)

Erosion controls are no longer present except for a few triangular dikes that have been place haphazardly around the site. Even the largely ineffective hays bales previously used are gone. Extreme erosion from this site will occur if it rains and sediment will flow to the storm drains.

Photo 1 (along Bluebonnet) Photo 2 (along Bluebonnet)
 
 
Photo 3 (along Ashby) Photo 4 (along Ashby)
 
 




Event 12 - 20 Aug 2016 (extreme erosion)

It appears that triangular dikes were installed in an attempt to prevent erosion from the site. However, they were not anchored and have floated downstream. Extreme erosion from site is occurring and sediment is flowing to the storm drains.

Photo 1 (along Bluebonnet; missing triangular dike) Photo 2 (along Bluebonnet)
 
 
Photo 3 (along Bluebonnet) Photo 4 (along Ashby; sediment flowing into storm sewer)
 
 
 
Photo 5 (along Bluebonnet; missing triangular dike)  
 
 




Event 11 - 16 Aug 2016 (extreme erosion)

Triangular dikes are not sufficient to prevent sand from leaving the site.

 
Photo 1 (along Bluebonnet) Photo 2
 
 




Event 10 - 15 Aug 2016 (extreme erosion)

Triangular dikes were apparently partially installed but they are certainly not adequate to prevent sediment from leaving the site.

Photo 1 (along Bluebonnet; missing triangular dike) Photo 2 (along Bluebonnet; missing triangular dike)
 
 
 
Photo 3 (along Bluebonnet; missing triangular dike)  
 
 




Event 9 - 14 Aug 2016 (extreme erosion)

Runoff has eroded the sand and swept it down to the storm sewers. Reported to the City on Aug 14.

Photo 1 (a.m.; along Ashby; sand in driveway swept away) Photo 2 (p.m.; along Ashby; sand in driveway swept away)
 
 




Event 8 - 13 Aug 2016 (inadequate erosion controls)

Even the hay bales are missing. Sand has been placed in driveway without any erosion controls. This portends problems with rain in the forcast. Reported to the City on Aug 13.

 
Photo 1 (along Ashby; no erosion control for driveway)  
 
 




Event 7 - 25 Jul 2016 (inadequate erosion controls)

City still refusing to make builder comply with Environmental Criteria Manual regarding hay bales dikes on this type of construction site. No erosion controls across entrance. Sediment is pouring into gutter

Reported to the City on July 27.

Photo 1 (sand bag contributing to the problem) Photo 2 (along Bluebonnet)
 
 
Photo 3 (along Ashby; sediment in gutter) Photo 4 (along Ashby sediment and decomposed straw in gutter)
 
 




Event 6 - 28 Jun 2016 (inadequate erosion controls)

City still refusing to make builder comply with Environmental Criteria Manual regarding hay bales dikes on this type of construction site. No erosion controls across entrance.

Photo 1 (along Bluebonnet; gaps in hay bales) Photo 2 (along Ashby; gaps in hay bales)
 
 




Event 5 - 14 Jun 2016 (inadequate erosion controls)

City still refusing to make builder comply with Environmental Criteria Manual regarding hay bales dikes on this type of construction site. No erosion controls across entrance.

Photo 1 (along Bluebonnet; gaps in hay bales) Photo 2 (along Ashby; gaps in hay bales)
 
 




Event 4 - 27 May 2016 (inadequate erosion controls)

City still refusing to make builder comply with Environmental Criteria Manual regarding hay bales dikes on this type of construction site. Gaps in hay bales make them ineffective.

Photo 1 (along Bluebonnet; gaps in hay bales) Photo 2 (along Ashby; gaps in hay bales)
 
 




Event 3 - 22 May 2016 (inadequate erosion controls)

This site is 11,029 square feet and is in the Barton Springs Zone. It does not appear that a temporary erosion and sedimentation control plan and a water quality plan certified by a registered professional engineer and approved by the Planning and Development Review Department has ever been prepared as required by Land Development Code § 25-8-184. The hay bale dike erosion controls at this site are inappropriate. According to the City's Erosion Control and Design Criteria Section 1.4.5.I, hay bales have a life expectancy of 2 months or less, are only acceptable for above ground and underground storage tanks or removal projects, and should only be used where the contributing drainage area is less than 2,500 square feet. The hay bales are already beginning to seriously deteriorate. Additionally, some of the hay bales have been removed allowing major gaps where contaminated runoff can flow out. The City indicated that they found no issues with this site when they visited on May 5, 2016. Reported again to the City on May 22, 2016.

Photo 1 (along Bluebonnet; gap in hay bales) Photo 2 (along Bluebonnet; gap in hay bales)
 
 
Photo 3 (corner of Bluebonnet and Ashby) Photo 4 (along Ashby)
 
 
Photo 5 (along Ashby) Photo 6 (along Ashby; gap in hay bales)
 
 




Event 2 - 30 Apr 2016 (inadequate erosion controls)

The hay bale dike erosion controls are inappropriate. According to the City's Erosion Control and Design Criteria Section 1.4.5.I, hay bales have a life expectancy of 2 months or less, are only acceptable for above ground and underground storage tanks or removal projects, and should only be used where the contributing drainage area is less than 2,500 square feet. Additionally, some of the hay bales have been moved allowing gaps. This site is in the Barton Springs Zone. Reported again to the City on May 2, 2016.

Photo 1 (along Bluebonnet; gaps in hay bales) Photo 2 (sediment visible in street at corner of Ashby and Bluebonnet)
 
 
Photo 3 (along Ashby) Photo 4 (gap in hay bales along Ashby)
 
 
 
Photo 5 (along Ashby)  
 
 




Event 1 - 13 Apr 2016 (no erosion controls)

This is a corner lot. No erosion controls have been installed along Bluebonnet Ln or along Ashby Ave. This site is in the Barton Springs Zone. Reported to the City on April 14, 2016.

Photo 1 (no erosion controls along Bluebonnet) Photo 2 (no erosion controls along Ashby)
 
 




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