Abstract: A silt fence includes a plurality of spaced stakes and a silt fence fabric coupled to the stakes wherein the silt fence fabric is a nonwoven needle punched fabric having a thickness of at least 5.25 mm, a denier size of 10-25 and a weight of 9-24 oz/square yard. The silt fence fabric may be asymmetrical dual sided needle punched wherein the downstream side of the fabric is punched 2-6 times more than the upstream side. The silt fence fabric may have a transverse direction orientation of fibers forming the fabric. The fence may include two independent tensioning members. The silt fence may include at least one vertical transverstivity cutoff element that prevents water from migrating from above the cutoff element within the fabric to below the cutoff element.