Nature, it’s unpredictable and generally unruly. In an effort to keep bread on the table and make sure that our families are healthy and happy, who has time to learn about ecology? Isn’t it better to just move nature out of the way and replace it with the stuff that we need like houses and roads? Sometimes.

It doesn’t matter where, or if, you’re on the sustainability scale, changing just a few things about how you do business can save you time and money, reduce risk exposure, and improve the ability of our environment to provide us with key “ecosystem services” like fresh air, clean and plentiful water, and clean land as well as “ecosystem products” like lumber and fish. 

Let’s start with soil. In an undisturbed condition, it’s got rocks and clay; worms and microbes that decompose both plant material and pollutants; mushrooms with their network of mycelium that supports the movement of water and nutrients around the soil; and most importantly, air and water pockets.

Most land development projects begin with wholesale clearing, grubbing, and mass grading. This means that heavy equipment has moved over every inch of soil on the site, changing the structure by compacting it. Soil suddenly becomes a hassle, very easy to suspend in the new runoff coming from the compacted soil, exposing you to a risk of fines and additional costs in erosion control maintenance.

Every square foot of disturbed area costs money to clear, grub, excavate and mass grade, compact. Depending on what part of the state you’re in, stormwater management from this area may be required. Even without that, though, properties with mature trees on them sell for more than those without.

Green Girl Development helps clients put their money where it can do the most good for their bottom line and the community. Our clients understand the “whys” so they can make better decisions on future projects.  Here are a few key tips that save money, limit disturbance and reduce risk throughout the life of your project:

1.       Use a compost berm, compost sock, or straw wattles instead of a sediment fence. Fences are 0-20% effective in clay soils and are harder to maintain.

2.       Minimize impervious surfaces. This saves the cost of pavement installation and stormwater management.

3.       Build new stuff over previously disturbed areas. Redevelopment is less expensive since much of the infrastructure is already in place.

4.       Reduce excavation. Use a swale (ditch) to convey runoff overland instead of in a pipe. Don’t install pipes deeper than they need to be.

5.       Limit compaction. Fence off areas to be protected, especially trees to be saved and infiltration areas. Use track equipment instead of wheeled. Take care when stockpiling soil to keep out of the dripline of trees, don’t cut off air and water to trees to be saved.

6.       Align utilities together in the same trench to reduce excavation costs.

This article was written by me for the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland's January 2020 newletter, on the web at:

http://pamplinmediagroup.com/publications/homebuildingnews_0110/