Notice of termination photo guidance- construction stormwater permits
This fact sheet is still under construction and its contents may change or be inaccurate.
All projects covered under the construction stormwater permit must submit a notice of termination once construction activity is complete and permanent stabilization has been achieved. When closing out a construction site, the 2023 construction stormwater permit requires you to submit photographs showing that all construction activity is complete and permanent cover has been established. Vegetative cover must consist of a uniform perennial vegetation with a density of 70% of its expected final growth. The uniform perennial vegetative cover should be evenly distributed, without large bare areas. If specific locations have not reached adequate cover density, inspections and supplemental seeding must continue. It is not necessary to take pictures of the entire site, but the conditions in each picture must be substantially similar to unphotographed areas. Stabilization conditions that are substantially similar would include areas that are using the same type of stabilization measures and that have similar slopes, soils, and topography, and have achieved the same level of stabilization. Photographs must be clear and in focus and must include the date the photo was taken. The photographs can be ground or aerial. Vegetation is not required where it would interfere with the function of a specific area, such as impervious surfaces or the base of a sand filter.
Example Photos
The following photos show what can and cannot be counted as acceptable vegetative coverage for permit compliance.
Hover over each image to see the answer?
Click on each image to see a larger version.
This image shows an acceptable vegetative cover, as it appears to be 70% or greater. However, the MPCA recommends removing silt fence when no longer needed, as it is in this case.
This image shows around 50% vegetative cover and would not be acceptable.
This image shows ground that has been disturbed and then stabilized with temporary hydraulically applied erosion control. This is not permanent vegetative cover and would not be acceptable.
This image shows around 10% cover and would not be acceptable.
While the surrounding areas have plenty of vegetative cover, the area with erosion control blankets has around 10% vegetative cover and would not be acceptable.
This slope appears to have no vegetative cover, as well as adjacent ongoing construction, and would not be acceptable.
This image shows vegetative coverage of around 50% and would not be acceptable.
While the vegetative coverage in this image would be acceptable, as it appears to be 70% or above, there appears to be ongoing construction on the site and permit termination would not be allowed.
The majority of these photos do not have dates included, but submitted photos should have dates associated with them.