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Sediment and Erosion Control for New Homeowners. October
2004. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
www.pca.state.mn.us/publications/wq-strm2-07.pdf
As serious a problem as saline soil, if not more serious, is
soil erosion. And soil erosion after construction of a new home is a serious
concern. If soil erosion occurs on your property you may be in violation of city
contracting codes. Builders, in most situations, are required to construct
temporary stabilization that includes short-term vegetation, mulching, and silt
fences. Construction often destroys the existing ecosystem, and either opens
soil to desiccation or compacts soil to create more runoff or soil/topsoil
erosion.
Stabilization solutions involve:
- Keeping native plants on the property
- Landscaping in dry weather
- Routing downspouts to heavily vegetated areas
- Creating terraced slopes
Even if your house is not new construction, you may still have
runoff, so this information can still be relevant.
Cultivating Success with Trees and Shrubs. Phillips, L. 2000.
American City & Country. pp. 62-71. (Magazine article)
Preparing a landscape to manage erosion is a great
preventative method for keeping soil intact. Site preparation, as this article
points, and location, are key to reducing the impacts of soil erosion. Included
are maps of plant zones, tips on using trees and shrubs effectively in a yard,
and how-to instructions for controlling erosion. Good stuff.
Keeping Topsoil Down on the Farm. Peterson, I. December 5,
1987. Science News.
Keeping Topsoil Down on the Farm is an older reference but one
that confirms sustainable soil management is more beneficial than artificial
means. Two farms, side-by-side, examine two different methods of erosion control
to determine if one method is better than another. One farm uses crop rotation
and both living and dead crop residues, while the other uses inorganic
fertilizers and pesticides. Not surprisingly, the results show organic farming
is much more effective at controlling soil erosion. Topsoil on the organic farm
was 6 inches deeper than the artificially maintained farm and held more moisture
in the soil.
Land/landscape owners can save money by recycling yard debris
and green waste instead of buying fertilizer, pesticide and replacement topsoil,
or mulch.
Plant Selection, Design Care, Keys to Gardening on Slope.
Wood, P. February 6, 2005. The Seattle Times.
http://www.seattletimes.com then
search for “Plant Selection, Design Care, Keys to Gardening on Slope”
Wood writes to a wide audience about plant selection and
placement within yards that have slope. Shade and plant height are woven into
the discussion of mitigating erosion with roots and leaves and the strategy of
perpendicular planting. The direction of the slope, whether west or south
facing, is also discussed for maximizing plant selection such as herbs that
enjoy heat from a direct southwestern exposure. Immediately following discussion
of slope, planting and maintenance comfort levels in the landscape are
addressed. This article is pitched to folks who want to vegetable garden their
slopes and emphasizes the need for tips to making sure the topsoil stays on
during our winter rains.
As a sustainable practice, terracing land to prevent soil
erosion outweighs the conventional solution to concrete. In a region such as the
Pacific Northwest where we can receive a lot of water all at once, it is
beneficial to disperse water into the soil slowly rather than have it speed
across an impervious surface and carrying soil. This website shows you how to
build terraces and includes:
- Appropriate materials
- Wall height requirements
- Optimum locations
- Excellent graphics
It is all about slowing the movement of water down to a
manageable pace. Unfortunately, the advent of concrete for terraces has often
been a short-sighted solution in the landscape with regard to water. While this
article is not particular about structural versus nonstructural solutions to
terracing, it’s a good how-to site. If this article peaks your interest, go to
the “Processes” section where you can find the full listing of the “NRCS
Backyard Care articles,” as this is the number one tip sheet in a series of ten
on backyard conservation.
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