Silt fence

[citation needed] A few hours after a storm event, the fabric can be "disturbed" in order to dislodge the fines, and allow clean water to flow through.

[10] However, an improper installation of a super silt fence can create an inadvertent sediment basin when the filter fabric becomes clogged.

Most super silt fence specifications are outdated, requiring the trenching installation method, which has been shown to be highly susceptible to "washing out" under the fabric due to improper back-filling and inadequate compaction.

[citation needed] Some state agencies recommend an installation technique called "static slicing" as an improved method for ensuring effectiveness and longevity of a silt fence system on a construction site.

[6][11] Silt fence fabrics (geotextiles) tested in laboratory settings have shown to be effective at trapping sediment particles.

Other studies and articles about silt fence usage and practice document problems with installation and maintenance, implying poor performance.

[citation needed] Silt fences may perform poorly for a variety of reasons, including improper location (e.g. placing fence where it will not pond runoff water), improper installation (e.g. failure to adequately embed and backfill the lower edge of fabric in the soil) and lack of maintenance—fabric falling off of the posts, or posts knocked down.