What condition requires temporary stabilization of bare areas within 7 days?

Temporary stabilization of bare areas is required within 7 days when those areas may remain dormant for over 14 days. This regulation is in place to prevent soil erosion and protect water quality by reducing sedimentation, which can occur when bare soil is subjected to weather elements such as rain or wind. When areas are left bare and may not be immediately developed or vegetated, they become highly susceptible to erosion, especially if there's a risk that they will remain unprotected for an extended period.

The requirement for stabilization within this time frame emphasizes the need for proactive environmental management, ensuring that measures like silt fences, erosion control blankets, or seeding are utilized to safeguard the site from adverse impacts of runoff.

While other conditions may be pertinent to stormwater management, they do not explicitly trigger the same urgent requirement for temporary stabilization. For example, having an area at final grade implies that it is prepared for subsequent construction activity. Areas less than 3 acres does not inherently determine erosion risk, nor does exposure to high winds on its own warrant immediate stabilization without considering the potential dormancy period of the soil. Thus, the focus on sites that could remain bare for over 14 days aligns directly with the goal of minimizing environmental impacts associated with erosion.