Sediment-control methods in areas of urban development must be more carefully designed temporally and spacially than methods used in rural areas. Several jurisdictions have adopted a manual for sediment-control methods that is based largely on rural sediment-control technology. The applications of those general methods too often have adverse geomorphic implications when large quantities of sediment suddenly move into and through natural streams.

An example of adverse effects of attempted sediment control is the use of small sediment-detention basins downstream from a development project when the construction phase will last for only a few months. The result is that (1) damage is done to the waterway during installation, maintenance, and, if necessary, removal of the structure; (2) little of the fine sediment is trapped and considerable coarse sediment may be lost during a storm of long recurrence interval; (3) maintenance may be neglected by the contractor, which can cause a failure of the system; and (4) the cost of the detention is passed onto the consumer. The need for such a detention basin might be avoided by designing the facility so as to insure minimum disturbance of the landscape, a reduction in direct overland flow, and better timing of construction to minimize soil exposure during the rainy season.