Arid Southwest BMP - 93 -

Straw Roll/Bale Barrier POLLUTANTS ADDRESSED: Nutrients and Organics, Salinity, Sediments

DESCRIPTION: Straw barriers are semi-permeable barriers that temporarily contain sediments generated by flows across bare or disturbed ground. LOAD REDUCTION MECHANISM:

Nutrients/Organics Management- The barriers traps nutrients that are carried by overland water flows. Salinity Reduction- They also temporarily impedes the flow of saline waters. Sediment Reduction – They temporarily trap sediment from overland water flows.

LAND USE CLASSIFICATION: Construction sites Agricultural lands Mining lands ADDITIONAL BENEFITS: None

POTENTIAL TREATMENT AREAS: Agricultural lands Developed lands ASSOCIATED BMP: Silt Fence PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS: None

Arid Southwest BMP - 94 -

Straw Roll/Bale Barrier POLLUTANTS ADDRESSED: Nutrients and Organics, Salinity, Sediments

Level 300: MILD ENGINEERING LOAD REDUCTION POTENTIAL:

LOW MEDIUM HIGH ESTIMATED TIME FOR LOAD REDUCTION:

IMMEDIATE MONTHS- > 2 YEARS 2 YEARS EXPECTED MAINTENANCE:

LOW MEDIUM HIGH ESTIMATED COST:

LOW MEDIUM HIGH

PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION: Straw bales are temporarily placed perpendicular to surface sheet flow. In small channels velocities are high enough to require anchoring of the bales with steel or wooden stakes. These barriers should be considered temporary and require maintenance. Riparian Planting Zone: Overbank, Transition and Upland Zones SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: TMDL Water Quality Study of the Virgin River Watershed, submitted to Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Water Quality. http://www.waterquality.utah.gov/TMDL/Duchesne_River_Watershed_TMDL.pdf