Protect Soils

P9Protect Soils

4 points possible

Why this matters to the lake?

The soils within the Lake George watershed are often thin and rocky, but they have evolved with the native vegetation to provide the necessary conditions to support forests and landscapes native to Lake George, as well as the filtering role contributing the lake’s Class AA-Special water quality designation by New York State.  Soils are not just “dirt,” but living systems that include bacteria, fungal communities, insects, and microorganisms.  Healthy native soils absorb rainfall, recycle nutrients, and filter pollutants before they reach the lake. The role performed by healthy soils takes on greater meaning when considering that it can take up to 500 years to create one inch of topsoil.

Intent

  • Protect water quality by maintaining healthy soils and vegetative cover
  • Reduce runoff by preventing soil disturbance and compaction
  • Promote infiltration and water storage by preserving high quality hydrologic soil groups and locating development on lower quality soils

Recommended Methods

Consider existing soil conditions and types during site design, i.e. preserve more porous soils and place buildings and impervious surfaces on soils that do not infiltrate well. Limit disturbance during construction to minimize soil compaction and disturbance. Identify areas within the limit of disturbance that can be protected from vehicle access and material storage. Install construction fencing or provide other effective physical barriers to protect soil before construction commences. Limit topsoil stockpiling to the smallest extent possible. Always separate topsoil from subsoil. Topsoil must NEVER be exported from a site  or imported from offsite. 

Requirements

  • Two points are awarded for the development of a Soil Management and Protection Plan that identifies locations of existing healthy soils and any vegetation and soil protection zones. Specify how construction activities are designed to minimize soil disturbance (Sequence of Construction). Indicate whether or not highly permeable soils (as indicated by Hydrologic Soil Group A or B or subsurface soil investigation) are present on site and identify measures to protect these areas. Describe in detail the planned treatment for each soil restoration and treatment zone. The Soil Management and Protection Plan should include: identifying and addressing soil limitations; assessing potential for soil compaction; assessment for organic matter.
  • One point for a plan that identifies soil limitations (such as through USDA Web Soil Survey) and address how the limitations will be mitigated.
  • One point is awarded for the implementation of a properly designed Soil Management and Protection Plan utilizing compost sock material.

Submittals

Include the following information with application:

  • As part of the Proposed Site Plan, the applicant should indicate areas that are to be protected from site disturbance and compaction.  Prior to construction or site work, the Plan should indicate:
    • Hydrologic Soil Groups from USDA Soil Survey
    • How the site will be accessed during construction
    • How equipment will move through the site, and any areas where equipment movement or vehicle storage are prohibited
    • What equipment or methods will be employed to reduce soil compaction
    • How the undisturbed areas are to be protected
  • Soil Management and Protection Plan shall be part of Proposed Site Plan, as plan notes or plan narrative that identifies soil limitations, potential for compaction and assessment of organic matter
  • Provide a Sequence of Construction

Construction Sequence:

  1. Prior to earth disturbance activities, erosion and sediment control best management practices should be installed.
  2. Install temporary rock construction entrance prior to site clearing.
  3. Take care not to compact soils.
  4.  Install tree protection fence and construction fence.  
  5. Install compost sock and inlet protection as shown on the plan. 
  6. Disturbed areas to be re-vegetated within 50 feet of surface waters shall be stabilized with erosion control blanket.
  7. No disturbance should occur outside of limit of disturbance.
  8. Vegetated areas are considered permanently stabilized when a uniform 70% vegetated cover of erosion resistant perennial species has been achieved. After final site stabilization has been achieved, remove temporary erosion and sedimentation controls. Areas disturbed during removal of the controls must also be stabilized immediately.
  9. Upon site stabilization, compost socks may be removed. Place compost as directed by the owner and properly dispose of the geotextile sock.

Soils Limitation Table Example:

Map symbol and soil name

Pct of map unit

Septic Tank Absorption Fields Suitability

 
Rating class and limiting features Value

BdC- Bice very bouldery fine sandy loam, sloping

 

 

 

Bice

70

Somewhat limited

 

 

 

Surface rock fragments

0.3

 

 

Slope

0.2

 

 

Restricted permeability

0.15

BeE- Bice-Woodstock very bouldery fine sandy loams, steep

 

 

 

Bice

50

Very limited

 

 

 

Slope

1

 

 

Surface rock fragments

0.3

 

 

Restricted permeability

0.15

Woodstock

30

Very limited

 

 

 

Depth to bedrock

1

 

 

Slope

1

 

 

Surface rock fragments

0.6

WoE- Woodstock-Rock outcrop complex, steep

 

 

 

Woodstock

50

Very limited

 

 

 

Depth to bedrock

1

 

 

Slope

1

 

 

Surface rock fragments

0.6

Rock outcrop

30

Not rated

 

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