Erosion Control & Silt Fencing
Every rain event takes something
unless you stop it first.
North Idaho's spring snowmelt doesn't forgive unprepared slopes. From the steep shorelines of Coeur d'Alene to the gravel plains of Post Falls, a disturbed site without erosion controls can lose inches of topsoil in a single runoff event — topsoil that took centuries to form and costs hundreds per yard to replace. LP's erosion control work is fundamentally about keeping the soil where the grading put it.
LP installs the full range of sediment and erosion controls — silt fence, erosion control blankets, straw wattles, check dams, rock riprap, and hydroseeding — to the standards Kootenai County inspectors and Idaho DEQ require. We work on construction sites, residential slopes, and stream-adjacent properties throughout Post Falls, CDA, Hayden, Rathdrum, and the surrounding North Idaho communities.
Protect your site, your topsoil,
and your permit status.
Kootenai County Permit Compliance
Erosion control is not optional on most North Idaho construction sites. Idaho DEQ's IPDES construction general permit requires a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and proper erosion control BMPs for sites disturbing more than 1 acre. LP implements the field-installed best management practices (BMPs) that satisfy inspector requirements and prevent stop-work orders.
Protect Topsoil During Spring Runoff
North Idaho's snowmelt season (March–May) concentrates more erosive energy into 8 weeks than most regions see in a year. A disturbed site without erosion controls during spring runoff can lose 2–6 inches of topsoil in a single season. LP's erosion controls installed before winter prevent the expensive topsoil loss and grading rework that uncontrolled runoff causes.
Bank Stabilization on Sloped Properties
North Idaho's terrain includes many residential properties on slopes, ravines, or adjacent to natural drainage channels. Uncontrolled bank erosion undercuts foundations, destroys landscaping, and eventually results in significant slope failures. LP stabilizes eroding banks through a combination of hard armoring, root-system establishment, and engineered drainage diversions.
Post-Construction Revegetation & Final Signoff
Erosion controls are not permanent — they're temporary measures until vegetation re-establishes. LP's post-construction revegetation service bridges the gap between construction completion and final permit signoff by establishing healthy vegetative cover that replaces the temporary controls. LP coordinates with project owners on the timing and documentation needed for permit closure.
Assess, install, revegetate —
the complete erosion control sequence.
Site Assessment & Erosion Risk Mapping
LP begins every erosion control project by walking the site and identifying the source areas: where runoff originates, the drainage pathway it follows, where sediment is being deposited, and whether the problem is surface sheet erosion, concentrated flow erosion, or bank erosion. Each erosion type has different best-practice solutions. LP maps the risk areas before specifying any material.
Silt Fence Installation
Silt fence is the industry-standard sediment control for active construction and disturbed-soil areas. LP installs silt fence correctly: fabric keyed into a 6-inch trench, posts at 8-foot centers, fabric secured tight to posts without sagging. Kootenai County and Idaho Department of Environmental Quality require silt fence for most construction disturbances over 1 acre and in proximity to water bodies. LP installs to IDAPA permit standards.
Erosion Control Blankets & Mats
Erosion control blankets (ECBs) protect disturbed slopes from raindrop impact and surface flow while establishing vegetation. LP installs biodegradable ECBs (straw, coco, or excelsior fiber) for most residential slopes and heavier polypropylene mats for permanent channel and steep slope applications. ECBs must be installed correctly — stapled in a specific pattern, seams overlapped — or they fail at the first rain event.
Straw Wattles & Check Dams
On moderate slopes and disturbed channels, straw wattles (tube-style sediment barriers) and rock check dams slow water velocity and allow suspended sediment to drop out before leaving the site. LP uses straw wattles for cross-slope barriers and rock check dams for concentrated drainage channels and swales. Check dam sizing is based on drainage area and expected runoff volume.
Hydroseeding with Erosion-Binding Tackifier
After mechanical erosion controls are installed, revegetation is the permanent solution. LP hydro-seeds disturbed areas with seed mixes appropriate for North Idaho conditions: soil-binding native grasses, erosion-specific annuals for immediate cover, and perennial grass mixes for long-term establishment. All LP hydroseeding for erosion control uses a bonded fiber matrix or tackifier to hold seed and mulch to the slope until germination.
Rock Riprap & Hard Armoring
For concentrated flow channels, stream banks, culvert outlets, and high-velocity drainage areas, vegetative solutions alone are insufficient. LP installs rock riprap (angular quarry rock placed to armor channel surfaces) and constructs rock-lined outlet structures at culvert and pipe discharge points. Riprap sizing is based on the design flow velocity and channel dimensions.
Erosion control across North Idaho slopes and sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
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