Soil erosion is a concern not only for its impacts
on plant growth, but also for its impacts to water quality.
Soil is the valuable natural resource that nourishes
and supports plant growth among many other things. When soil
is left bare
and exposed, it can erode by both wind and water. In addition
to the loss of the valuable soil resource, wind erosion can impact
air quality and water erosion can result in gullies or “washed
out” channels and sedimentation to down-slope areas.
Sediments that are transported to storm drains and surface waters
can choke aquatic life and increase water temperatures. Various
pollutants such as phosphorus and heavy metals may also be attached
to these sediments further threatening water quality.
Stabilizing the soil can be achieved through:
Maintaining
a healthy, perennial vegetative cover.
Mulching.
Increasing
soil organic matter.
Cover
cropping – such as winter rye in vegetable gardens.
Includes annual grasses, small grains, legumes and other types
of vegetation planted to an area to provide a temporary vegetative
cover. Cover crops are often tilled under serving also as a “green
manure” crop.
Placing
crushed stone, wood chips, and other similar materials in heavily
used areas where vegetation is hard to establish and
maintain.
Other
temporary erosion controls that include the use of geo-textile
materials that aid in the establishment of permanent vegetation.
These are especially effective on steep slopes and heavily used
areas.
Addressing
problem areas of concentrated stormwater runoff. This may include
redirecting stormwater and roof runoff to areas that
can settle and dissipate water, such as rain
gardens or vegetated
buffer areas.
For more information on maintaining healthy vegetative cover,
mulching, and improving soil organic matter
URI
CE GreenShare Sustainable Trees and Shrubs Manual
The following URI CE GreenShare factsheets:
Compost
General Lawn Maintenance and Renovation
Mulches
Selection of Grasses
What is Wrong With My Lawn?
or call our URI Master Gardener Hotline: 1 (800) 448-1011
Monday through Thursday 9 AM to 2 PM
Healthy Landscapes Information Sheet:
Rain Gardens--enhancing your home
landscape and protecting water quality
URI CE Home*A*Syst Program Factsheet
Shoreland
Buffers and Water Quality Protection
For more information on reducing stormwater runoff and
soil erosion
URI CE Home*A*Syst's Home
Landscape Improvements for Water Quality Protection
USDA
Natural Resources Conservation Service or your local Conservation
District call(401) 828-1300
additional information on soils, erosion control and cover cropping
URI CE Home*A*Syst Program and the Southern New
England Forest Consortium, Inc. -- Today's
Forest, Tomorrow's Legacy: A Guide for Small Acreage Woodland
Owners
For more information on rain barrels see our Healthy Landscapes
Information Sheets
Rain Barrels
How to Build and Install a Rain Barrel
The
Center for Watershed Protection
or call (410) 461-8323
information on rain gardens, rain barrels and watershed protection