Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Box 10-3. Lesson Learned: Site Inspections Are Critical
An agency contracted for the installation of wetland plant species at a stormwater quality
improvement project site. The native wetland plants had already been contract grown by
a nursery. On the day of plant installation, the plant materials arrived at the project site
in the small plastic tublings in which they were grown. The contractor responsible for
plant installation picked up day laborers in front of a local market to install the plants.
Fortunately, the project designer showed up to find that the laborers were putting the
plants into the ground while they were still in their plastic tublings. The laborers were
instructed to take the plants out of the tublings prior to putting them in the ground.
The agency learned that it is important to assign a site inspector to the project to
oversee the work of the installation contractor.
Restoration project site inspectors are often called on to make necessary adjustments to project
plans in the field as situations arise. Sometimes, the contractor makes a suggestion that will make
your project more successful, and sometimes contractors just want to cut corners to compensate
for underestimations of the time and expense for project implementation. You may be faced with
spur-of-the-moment decisions, such as whether you should
• allow a contractor to grade the site to a lesser degree of resolution than what is called for in
the project plans.
• allow a contractor to modify the design or placement of in-stream aquatic habitat
improvement structures.
• allow a contractor to rip compacted soil to a lesser depth than what is specified in the
project plans.
• allow a contractor to deposit a thinner layer of soil than what is called for in the project
plans.
• allow a contractor to use erosion control mulch that is not certified as weed-free, as was
specified in the project plans.
• allow substitutions of different plant materials than what was specified in the project plans
if the contractor cannot locate some of the required plant species.
• allow a contractor to dig shallower planting holes if the ground is harder than expected.
The answers to these questions depend on the specifics of the site and the judgment of expe-
rienced individuals. At times, it will be necessary to refer such questions back to the planners
for the project because they have the background information of the item being discussed (box
10-4).
A log or journal can be invaluable. Project information to record includes when and where
each task was performed, when formal inspections were conducted, the results of those inspec-
tions, and documentation, including photos, of any variations to project plans and specifications
that were approved. Records of the number of person hours it took a contractor to perform certain
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