How to Build Up Watershed to Prevent Erosion

Watersheds, areas of land that due to inclination or other geographic characteristics filter into bodies of water or groundwater deposits, play an important role in water purity and land integrity. More specifically, erosion, the gradual loss of soil to wind and water movement, is a major concern in watersheds, as the elements lost from the land can either contaminate water or significantly reduce the fertility or usability of soils. Although erosion is a natural and inevitable process, several steps in watershed management can help reduce erosion and preserve natural water and land resources.

Instructions

• 1

  Preserve tree and plant cover whenever possible. Root systems help keep soil in place and fight erosion. Clear-cutting destabilizes soil by removing these supports. Even in situations such as agricultural practices that require that land in a watershed be cleared, timing these practices to avoid heavy winds or precipitation and quickly covering the fields with new seeds can help reduce erosion.

• 2

  Incorporate permeable surfaces into construction plans and ground treatments. Nonabsorbent surfaces like asphalt do not allow water to filter into the ground. Instead, these surfaces trap water and accelerate water flows in the case of heavy precipitation or flooding, potentially increasing erosion. Surrounding nonabsorbent surfaces with highly permeable areas or incorporating absorbent or drainage features into impermeable surfaces can help slow or redirect water flows to fight erosion.

• 3

  Avoid developing areas immediately adjacent to bodies of water. Even if clear-cutting or impermeable surfaces are necessary in areas of the watershed, stream-side vegetation and wetlands play a critical role in keeping eroded soils out of the body of water, as well as becoming a last line of defense against the permanent loss of soils downstream. Natural vegetation is often a more effective strategy against erosion and flooding than rigid artificial sea walls.

• 4

  Designate specific areas for pedestrian and vehicle movements. Soils compacted by foot traffic or heavy machinery are significantly more susceptible to erosion. By designating areas for activities that can compact soil, the problem can be limited to a specific area and measures such as surrounding paths with vegetation can be taken to avoid erosion.