Silt fence installed up-slope of a vegetated stream buffer
A silt fence, sometimes (misleadingly) called a "filter fence,"[1] is a temporary sediment control device used on construction sites to protect water quality in nearby streams, rivers, lakes and seas from sediment (loose soil) in stormwaterrunoff. Silt fences are widely used on construction sites in North America and elsewhere, due to their low cost and simple design.[2] However, their effectiveness in controlling sediment can be limited, due to problems with poor installation, proper placement, and/or inadequate maintenance.[3]
^Sprague, C.J. (1999). "Assuring the Effectiveness of Silt Fences and Other Sediment Barriers." Proceedings of Conference 30, International Erosion Control Association, Nashville, TN. pp. 133-154.