JL Landworx Services
Storm Drain Inlet Protection
Inlet protection keeps sediment out of storm drains during construction — devices installed at curb inlets, catch basins, and yard drains, maintained until the site is stable.
Inlet Protection for planned site work
Storm drains are a direct pipe to local waters — whatever washes into a catch basin goes downstream without treatment. During construction, when bare soil is exposed and runoff carries sediment, inlet protection devices filter or pond that runoff at the drain so soil stays on the site. JL Landworx installs and maintains storm drain inlet protection on construction sites across Central Minnesota and the greater Twin Cities.
Inlet protection is one of the most visible parts of a site's erosion control, and one of the most commonly neglected. A device that is clogged with sediment, shifted out of position, or buried by a paving crew stops working, and the first big storm delivers a slug of sediment straight to the storm system. We install the right device for the inlet type and keep it working for the life of the project.
Like silt fence, inlet protection is usually part of a broader erosion control plan, and on our projects it goes in alongside the excavation, grading, and utility work that puts sediment at risk in the first place.
Problems inlet protection solves
- A construction site has storm drains that need protection before dirt work starts
- Runoff from disturbed ground is carrying sediment toward curb inlets or catch basins
- Existing inlet protection has clogged, shifted, or been damaged and stopped working
- A project reviewer or inspector has flagged missing inlet protection
- A paving or utility project is disturbing soil around live storm drains
What we do
- Inlet protection device installation at curb inlets, catch basins, and yard drains
- Device selection matched to the inlet type and how the area drains
- Protection during utility, road, and site construction near live storm systems
- Inspection and cleaning of devices so they keep functioning after storms
- Repair and repositioning of shifted or damaged protection
- Removal of devices once upslope areas are stabilized
- Inlet protection integrated with site-wide erosion and sediment control
Our inlet protection process
Site walk and inlet inventory
We walk the site and its surroundings, identify every inlet that could receive site runoff, and note how each one drains and what type it is.
Device selection and layout
Each inlet gets a protection approach suited to its type and location — the drainage path, traffic, and construction sequence all factor in.
Installation
Devices are installed before upslope ground is disturbed, positioned so runoff is filtered or ponded without flooding the roadway or bypassing the device.
Maintenance and removal
Devices are inspected and cleaned after storms throughout the project, and removed once the upslope area is stabilized and no longer a sediment source.
Common projects
- Residential and commercial construction sites
- Road, curb, and paving projects
- Utility construction near storm systems
- Site development and grading projects
- Parking lot construction and reconstruction
- Any disturbed-ground project draining to storm drains
Planning your project
What affects cost
- Number and type of inlets to protect
- Device types required for each inlet and drainage situation
- Whether protection is standalone or part of a larger erosion control or excavation scope
- Project duration and how much cleaning and maintenance devices will need
- Site conditions — traffic, drainage volume, and how much sediment load devices will carry
What affects timing
- How soon devices must be in place relative to the dirt work schedule
- Storm frequency, which drives cleaning and maintenance needs
- Project duration — devices stay in service until the site is stabilized
- Construction sequencing, since paving and utility crews work around the inlets
Good to know
- Inlet protection has to be in place before ground is disturbed upslope — installing it after the first muddy rain is too late.
- Devices need maintenance. Plan for inspection and cleaning after storms, because a clogged device can back water up or let sediment bypass entirely.
- Inlet protection is the last line of defense, not the plan itself — stabilizing bare ground and controlling runoff on site keeps most sediment from ever reaching the drain.
- Many projects are required to protect storm drains during construction — confirm the requirements that apply to yours before work starts.
Related services
Often paired with
- Erosion ControlErosion and sediment control keeps soil on your site during and after construction — silt fence, inlet protection, and stabilization for disturbed ground and shorelines.Learn more →
- Silt Fence InstallationSilt fence installation puts a trenched-in sediment barrier along the downslope edge of disturbed ground so runoff drops its soil before leaving your construction site.Learn more →
- GradingGrading is shaping the ground to the right elevations and slopes — rough grading for construction, finish grading for lawns, and regrading to fix drainage.Learn more →
- ExcavationExcavation is the controlled removal and placement of soil to prepare a site for construction — from foundations and basements to utilities, driveways, and drainage.Learn more →
- Utility TrenchingUtility trenching is excavating narrow, properly sloped trenches for buried water, sewer, septic, electric, and other lines — then backfilling and compacting them correctly.Learn more →
Plan the next step
Inlet Protection resources
- View project photosSee first-party images of JL Landworx excavation, clearing, wall, demolition, and landscape work.Learn more →
- Browse service areasFind dedicated service pages across Central Minnesota and the greater Twin Cities.Learn more →
- Request a written quoteShare the property address, project goal, access details, and preferred timing so the site review starts with useful information.Learn more →
FAQ
Inlet Protection questions
Why do storm drains need protection during construction?
Because storm drains discharge untreated to local waters. When construction leaves soil bare, rain washes sediment into the nearest inlet and straight downstream. Inlet protection filters or ponds that runoff at the drain so the sediment stays on the site — and on many projects, protecting inlets is a requirement, not a choice.
What kinds of inlet protection are there?
Different devices suit different inlets — barriers that surround the grate, inserts that sit inside the basin, and perimeter-style protection for curb openings. The right choice depends on the inlet type, how much water it receives, and traffic around it. We match the device to each inlet rather than using one approach everywhere.
How often does inlet protection need maintenance?
After every significant rain at minimum. Sediment builds up against or inside the device, and once it clogs or gets buried, water either bypasses it or backs up where you don't want it. Regular inspection and cleaning is what keeps the protection real instead of decorative.
When can inlet protection be removed?
Once the area draining to the inlet is stabilized — vegetation established or surfaces finished — so it is no longer a sediment source. Removing devices while bare ground still drains to the inlet defeats the whole exercise.
Is inlet protection enough on its own?
No. It is the last line of defense. The bulk of sediment control happens on site — silt fence where runoff leaves the property, and stabilizing bare ground as work finishes. Inlet protection catches what gets past those measures; relying on it alone overloads the devices and sends sediment downstream.
Plan your inlet protection project
Tell JL Landworx what you need the site to support, where the work is located, and what must happen before or after inlet protection. We’ll review the scope and provide a project-specific quote and schedule.