Actaeon installs best management practices (BMPs) — including sediment basins, bioswales, outlet protection, and inlet protection — for residential and commercial properties in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

BMPs are engineered controls required by stormwater regulations and grading permits. Getting them right keeps projects compliant and keeps sediment out of local waterways.

What BMPs Actaeon installs

We install the full range of temporary and permanent stormwater controls, including:

  • Sediment traps and basins. Capture sediment-laden runoff before it leaves the site. Required on most grading permits for disturbance areas over 5,000 square feet.
  • Silt fence and tree protection. Perimeter controls that filter sheet flow and protect existing vegetation from equipment damage.
  • Inlet protection. Sediment control devices installed at storm drain inlets to prevent sediment from entering the pipe system. Required at every inlet within or adjacent to a disturbed area.
  • Rock check dams. Slow velocity in channels and swales to promote settling and reduce erosion.
  • Bioswales. Vegetated channels that filter stormwater while conveying it — function as both conveyance and water quality BMPs.
  • Outlet protection. Riprap or similar energy dissipation at pipe outfalls to prevent scour.
  • Stabilized construction entrances. Aggregate pads at site access points to remove mud from truck tires before they hit public roads.

Temporary vs. permanent BMPs

Temporary BMPs are installed during construction and removed once the site is stabilized — silt fence, inlet protection, and construction entrances fall in this category. Permanent BMPs remain in place after construction: bioswales, infiltration trenches, rain gardens, and underground detention systems. Many sites require both phases, and the temporary controls must meet the same engineering standards as permanent ones — a common error is treating temporary controls as afterthoughts. MDE and DDOE both inspect actively during construction and will issue NOVs for inadequate erosion and sediment control.