Failure avoidance effective silt fence

Abstract

A silt fence structure and method of controlling erosion are disclosed. The silt fence structure includes a water permeable fence, an apron having first and second edges, the first edge providing a buried apron toe, the second edge attaching to the water permeable fence, and at least one flow barrier attached to the water permeable fence and to the apron so as to impede lateral runoff flow along the water permeable fence.

1 . A silt fence structure comprising:
 a water permeable fence;   an apron having first and second edges, the first edge providing a buried upstream apron toe, the second edge attaching to the water permeable fence and providing a buried downstream apron toe; and   at least one flow barrier attached to the water permeable fence and to the apron so as to impede lateral runoff flow along the water permeable fence.   
   
   
       2 . The silt fence structure of  claim 1 , wherein the water permeable fence provides a buried fence toe proximate the buried downstream apron toe. 
   
   
       3 . The silt fence structure of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flow barrier has a generally right triangular shape providing first and second edges attaching to the water permeable fence and the apron, respectively. 
   
   
       4 . The silt fence structure of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flow barrier has a curved triangular shape with first and second straight legs attaching to the water permeable fence and the apron, respectively, and a curved leg spanning between the water permeable fence and the apron. 
   
   
       5 . The silt fence structure of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flow barrier comprises a plurality of flow barriers attaching to the water permeable fence at substantially the same location. 
   
   
       6 . The silt fence structure of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one fence post attached to the water permeable fence. 
   
   
       7 . The silt fence structure of  claim 6 , further comprising a backing plate, the backing plate being positioned along the fence post and attached to the fence post such that the water permeable fence and the flow barrier interpose the backing plate and the fence post where the flow barrier is attached to the fence. 
   
   
       8 . The silt fence structure of  claim 1 , further comprising a floculant applied to the apron so as to disperse into runoff over the apron. 
   
   
       9 . The silt fence structure of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one geo textile pouch containing floculant attached to the apron so as to disperse floculant into runoff over the apron. 
   
   
       10 . The silt fence structure of  claim 1 , wherein the apron is further comprised of first and second layers with a floculant placed therebewteen so as to disperse into runoff over the apron. 
   
   
       11 . A silt fence structure for controlling erosion on a sloped ground surface having an upstream direction and a downstream direction, the structure comprising:
 a water permeable fence providing a fence toe buried in the ground surface;   a plurality of flow barriers;   an apron having first and second edges, the first edge providing an upstream apron toe and the second edge providing a downsteam apron toe; and   a plurality of fence posts, each with a first end buried in the ground surface and extending generally upward therefrom;   wherein the apron is attached to the fence proximate the second edge of the apron and extends from the fence in the upstream direction, the fence is attached to the apron proximate the fence toe, and the upstream and downstream apron toes are buried in the ground surface;   wherein each of the plurality of flow barriers is attached to the filter fence along a first edge of the flow barrier and attached to the apron along a second edge of the flow barrier; and   wherein at least one of the plurality of fence posts attaches to the fence proximate a location connecting to at least one of the plurality of flow barriers.   
   
   
       12 . The silt fence structure of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one backing plate positioned on a side of the fence opposite at least one of the plurality of fence posts and positioned such that at least one of the plurality flow barriers and the fence are sandwiched between the backing plate and the fence post. 
   
   
       13 . The silt fence structure of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the plurality of flow barriers has a generally right triangular shape providing first and second edges attaching to the water permeable fence and the apron, respectively. 
   
   
       14 . The silt fence structure of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the plurality of flow barriers has a curved triangular shape with first and second straight legs attaching to the water permeable fence and the apron, respectively, and a curved leg spanning between the water permeable fence and the apron. 
   
   
       15 . The silt fence structure of  claim 11 , wherein at least two of the plurality of flow barriers attach to the water permeable fence at substantially the same location. 
   
   
       16 . The silt fence structure of  claim 11 , further comprising a floculant applied to the apron such that the floculant disperses into runoff on the apron. 
   
   
       17 . A method of controlling erosion on a sloped soil surface having an upstream and a downstream direction, the method comprising:
 planting a plurality of fence posts into the soil;   attaching a silt fence between the plurality of posts;   providing an apron attached along the fence, the apron forming a downstream apron toe proximate the fence and extending overground therefrom in an upstream direction to form an upstream apron toe;   burying the downstream and upstream apron toes in the soil; and   attaching at least one flow barrier between the fence and the apron.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising spraying a floculant onto the apron. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising imbuing the apron with a floculant.