service and outreach:
georgia erosion & sedimentation control act
what is soil erosion?
Soil erosion is the movement of soil particles by the forces of water,
wind, and gravity. Erosion can:
|
Formation of a landscape by wind and water erosion in Arches National
Park, Utah
Courtesy Krista Jones
|
1) Occur naturally and shape landscapes
slowly over time (e.g. the formation of the Grand Canyon); or
|
A 'black roller' moves across the United States
plains carting soil blown from unprotected farmland during the Dust
Bowl (circa 1930s) Courtesy USDA NRCS |
| 2) Be
accelerated by human activities, particularly land disturbing
activities like forest clearing, farming, grading, dredging, and excavating.
|
"Any activity which may result in soil erosion from water or wind
and the movement of sediments into state water or onto lands within
the state, including, but not limited to, clearing, dredging, grading,
excavating, transporting, and filling of land but not including agricultural
practices as described in paragraph (5) of Code Section 12-7-17."
Sediment laden runoff floods drainage ditches
after a brief storm and flow directly into the stream in Tennessee.
Courtesy: USDA NRCS
|
Soil erosion can be affected by:
1) Soil texture and structure. The
texture and structure of soil determines how easily the soil can
be eroded. Sandy, silty soils can easily be eroded by wind and water
because the soil particles are not bound together. Soils rich in
organic matter tend to be clumped together and thus less easily
eroded.
2) Slope. The slope of a terrain contributes
to the energy of water forces. Since water falling on steep terrains
moves downhill faster, the water has more energy to move soil particles.
Thus, soils on steep terrains are more vulnerable to erosion than
soils in flatter terrains.
3) Plant cover. Plant cover protects
soils from the forces of wind and water. Soils not protected by
trees and plants will erode faster than soils protected by plant
cover.
|
|
