The relationship between water quality and soil erosion cannot be overemphasized. Soil erosion and residue management, especially surface water runoff, influence water quality. A silt fence, sometimes called a filter fence, is a temporary sediment control barrier used on construction sites to protect water quality in nearby waterways from sediment in stormwater runoff.

The problem with silt fences is that they only filter sand and silt, clay and nutrients flow through the fences.  Placing a berm of compost on the low side of silt fences adds the capacity to filter out clays and nutrients. Compost contains both positive and negative charges that attract both positively and negatively charged elements and clays.

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