Sediment mats, also known as silt mats, are used in waterways during construction activities. They’re used to trap disturbed sediment and silt that migrate into streams and watercourses that could pollute aquatic habitats downstream.

Sediment mats are biodegradable and fixed to the stream bed in order to filter the water and trap debris without impeding water flow.

Sandbags are another method of silt control in streams and watercourses. They work by diverting the flow of water away from a certain area, this also makes them efficient in erosion control. Sandbags can also be used to isolate an area for work.

Sandbags allow for a high flow of water to pass while effectively filtering out the sediment and in turn preventing pollution. Sandbags are great for reinforcing existing structures and flood reduction measures.

Both sediment mats and sandbags are effective tools for the protection of streams from pollution and are often used in conjunction with other silt control measures such as silt fencing.