Temporary Sediment Basin SD-3 Calculator (GSWCC)

May 4, 2026

This is a test version, and I would appreciate any comments and bug reports. This calculator implements the Temporary Sediment Basin (SD-3) sizing workflow from the Manual for Erosion and Sediment Control in Georgia and turns the Design Data Sheet into a repeatable, transparent set of computations.

Unlike “black box” tools, SD-3 depends heavily on table lookups and a few fixed criteria. The calculator keeps those steps visible by showing only the relevant window of each table and highlighting the exact cell(s) used for your design.

Temporary Sediment Basin (SD-3) Calculator

Sd3

Temporary Sediment Basin — full design sheet

Every step traced to the GSWCC manual, with the table cell used highlighted.

Project

Computed / checked names and the generation date are stamped on the PDF design sheet.

Hydrology & area

Basin geometry

Elevations, pipe & spillway

Elevation schedule (live)
Top of dam1,055.10
Design high water1,054.10
E.S. crest1,053.60
Riser crest1,052.50
Clean-out mark1,048.87
Basin bottom1,047.50

Basin sizing — auto

governs: surface area
Bottom W × L
56 × 132 ft
Wb = Wc − 2·Zu·D
Pool @ crest W × L
76 × 152 ft
L = 2W (Sd3 shape)
Storage depth D
5.0 ft
bottom → riser crest
Surface area @ crest
11,332 sf
≥ 11,326 required
Storage provided
1,721 cy
≥ 1,213 required
Bottom L : W
2.36 : 1
elongates below crest
Pick storage depth:

The “Balanced” option optimizes excavation depth versus footprint, while the “Smallest Footprint” option minimizes land take by allowing a deeper excavation.

Cross Section
ROCK RIP-RAP OUTLET 1,046.50 ELEVATION CORE TRENCH: 2' DEEP, 1:1 SS 4' BOTTOM WIDTH 3"-4" STONE 5.0' STORAGE 1,052.50 ELEVATION 1,721 CU. YD. MAX. VOLUME OF BASIN 1,048.87 ELEVATION 398 CU. YD. VOLUME WHEN SEDIMENT REMOVAL IS REQUIRED 36" CONCRETE ANTIFLOTATION BLOCK: 54" X 54" X 18" ____" LONG (2 NO. 6 STEEL REBAR) 1,047.50 ELEVATION 24" DIA. CORRUGATED STEEL PIPE PERFORATE THE ENTIRE RISER WITH 1 2 " HOLES ANTI-SEEP COLLAR: 18" X 18" EMERGENCY SPILLWAY TEMPORARY SEDIMENT BASIN 46.0' TOP OF DAM CONSTRUCTED ELEV. 1,055.48 TOP OF DAM SETTLED ELEV. 1,055.10 CROSS-SECTIONAL DETAIL 2:1 SIDE SLOPE 54" 10' EMERGENCY SPILLWAY WIDTH 22 CREST ELEVATION 1,053.60 2:1 SIDE SLOPE 0.5' SPILLWAY FLOW DEPTH 1.0' FREEBOARD

Volume

1

Required storage volume Vs

Sd3 · Volume
67 cy/ac × drainage area1,212.7cy
× 2732,743cf
2

Clean-out volume Vc

Sd3 · Volume
22 cy/ac × drainage area (≈ ⅓ of Vs)398.2cy
3

Min. riser crest elevation

basin bottom + D1,052.50ft
4

Clean-out elevation

Vc on stage-storage curve1,048.87ft
height above bottom1.4ft
5

Riser length

riser crest − pipe invert at riser5.0ft

Runoff & surface area

6

Peak discharge Q2

2-yr, 24-hr storm (input)26.0cfs
7

Peak discharge Q25

25-yr, 24-hr storm (input)46.0cfs
8

Min. surface area

Sd3 · Surface Area
0.01 × Q2 (acres)0.260ac
× 43,56011,326sf
9

Available area at crest ≥ min?

provided 11,332 sf ≥ 11,326 sfYES
10

2:1 length-to-width (at crest)

Sd3 · Shape
76 × 152 ft → L = 2W2.0 : 1

Principal spillway

11

Max. capacity = Q2

principal sized for 2-yr storm26.0cfs
12

Head H (outlet ⟶ E.S. crest)

vertical distance6.10ft
13

Pipe length L

measured / auto46ft
min = [A − (B+C)/2]·(Zu+Zd) + T46ft
14

Pipe diameter Dps & flow

Table 6-29.1
from H and Q2Dps 24″, Q 27.0 cfs
Table 6-29.1 — pipe flow (cfs)
H \ Dps12"18"24"30"36"
43.9710.922.137.657.7
54.4312.224.742.164.5
64.8613.42746.170.6
75.2514.529.249.876.3
85.6115.531.253.281.5
15

Actual flow Qps

Q × CF (CF=1.17)31.59cfs
16

Riser diameter Dr

≥ 1.5 × Dps36in
17

Trash rack diameter Dt

≥ 1.4 × Dr54in
18

Riser head h

Table 6-29.2
from Dr and Qps1.10ft
Table 6-29.2 — riser head: cell = Q (cfs) at head h for diameter Dr
h \ Dr24"30"36"48"54"
0.813.917.420.927.931.4
1.019.524.329.239.043.8
1.225.632.038.451.257.6
1.440.348.464.572.6
1.649.359.178.888.7
19

Concrete per vert. ft

Table 6-29.3
anti-flotation, by Dr6.18cf/vf
Table 6-29.3 — anti-flotation concrete (cf per vertical ft)
by Dr21"24"30"36"48"54"60"
cf / vf2.102.754.296.1810.9813.9017.16
20

Total concrete

per-vf × riser length30.9cf
21

Base thickness B

assumed18in
22

Required base area

total concrete ÷ B20.6sf
23

Square base side

√(area)4.54 ft (54 in)

Anti-seep collar

24

Collar required?

dam > 15 ft, smooth > 8″, or CMP > 12″REQUIRED
settled dam height7.6ft
25

Collar projection

H ≤ 10 ft → 18″, H > 10 ft → 24″18″

Emergency spillway

26

Capacity Qes

Q25 − Qps14.4cfs
27

Stage, width, velocity, slope

Table 6-29.4
from QesHp 0.5′, b 22′, V 2.7, S 3.8%
Table 6-29.4 — earth spillway Q (cfs)
Hp \ b16'18'20'22'24'26'28'
0.511131415171820
0.616182022242628
0.720232528303335
28

Entrance slope Se

actual (input)5.0%
29

Exit velocity Vo

V × (So / S)^0.33.2fps

Design elevations

30

Riser crest

basin bottom + D1,052.50ft
31

Emergency spillway crest

riser crest + h1,053.60ft
32

Design high water

E.S. crest + Hp1,054.10ft
33

Top of dam

DHW + freeboard1,055.10ft
Basis: GSWCC Manual for Erosion & Sediment Control in Georgia, 6th Ed., Sd3. Data generated with the Sd3 calculator at chernitsky.net.