Erosion Control

What are the negative consequences of erosion and why is it important to control erosion?

Soil erosion is when water, ice, or wind removes surface soils from an area of land. Most often the top layer is removed, which contains topsoil and most of the organic matter in the earth. This reduces biological productivity in the area that needs these nutrients to grow plants.

In 1992 alone, a total of 2.1 billion tons of US cropland soil was lost to erosion. Ultimately, this can lead to the desertification of cropland. The economic impacts of erosion can be tremendous. The USDA estimates that offsite costs due to erosion are between $2 billion and $8 billion annually.

Erosion also contributes to the degradation of water quality. Particularly if fertilizers are used on the land, nitrates flow into water bodies, causing eutrophication and decreased dissolved oxygen levels in the water. This is what causes harmful algal blooms and, occasionally, fish kills. In North Carolina, sediment from erosion is North Carolina’s number one water pollutant.

The land around the Outdoor Classroom is seeded to minimize erosion.

What did Prairie Ridge do to limit erosion during construction?

At Prairie Ridge, we minimized the amount of land that was excavated, disturbing as little earth as possible. Also, in order to limit erosion, we seeded areas that would later be disturbed during the creation of permanent and temporary roads.

Why should I control erosion?

Controlling erosion is important for the aesthetic of a landscape. Plants require soil to grow, so cultivating your garden or keeping a nice lawn is difficult with fewer nutrients available. Controlling erosion maintains the value of your property and you may be eligible to receive a discount on your stormwater fee for collecting rainwater.