Ag Erosion & Sediment Control
Pennsylvania’s Chapter 102: Erosion & Sediment Control and Stormwater Management
All farms are required to develop and implement a written Ag E&S plan to reduce erosion when plowing and tilling (includes no-till cropping) and/or managing Animal Heavy Use Areas (AHUA) disturbing more than 5,000 square feet. All Animal Heavy Use Areas are required to implement Agricultural Best Management Practices. Check out the NRCS Conservation Catalog for detailed BMP information.
New ag e&s manual available for farmer use:
Click here for Ag E&S Manual
- Areas lacking vegetation must be addressed
- Pollution to a water body from runoff from AHUAs must be prevented
- AHUAs are defined as “barnyards, feedlots, loafing areas, exercise lots, sacrifice pastures or similar areas where it is not possible to establish and maintain vegetative cover of a density capable of minimizing accelerated erosion and sedimentation by usual planting methods”
- Areas within 100′ of a stream must maintain a minimum of 25% plant cover or crop residue, or additional BMPs will be required
- The National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for construction activities is required for earth disturbance activities that disturb 1 acre or more (including but not limited to: new animal housing, manure storage facilities, compost facilities)
- Examples of Ag BMPs include but are not limited to: terraces, waterways, diversions, and vegetated buffers
- Ag BMPs are exempt from NPDES permitting requirements if installed as part of an Ag E&S or Conservation Plan
PA OneStop is a helpful, free online tool to map your farm and develop an Ag E&S Plan
For more information, contact Abby Reiter @ 610-489-4506 x24
Useful Links: