Measures to control accelerated Erosion

Erosion is a natural process, but human activity can make it happen more quickly.

 Erosion control is the process of reducing erosion by wind and water. Farmers and engineers must regularly practice erosion control.

• • • Sometimes, engineers simply install structures to physically prevent soil from being transported.
    • Gabions are huge wireframes that hold boulders in place, for instance. Gabions are often placed near cliffs. These cliffs, often near the coast, have homes, businesses, and highways near them. When erosion by water or wind threatens to tumble the boulders toward buildings and cars, gabions protect landowners and drivers by holding the rocks in place.
    • Erosion control also includes physically changing the landscape.
      • • Communities often invest in windbreaks and riparian buffers to protect valuable agricultural land.
        • Windbreaks, also called hedgerows or shelterbelts, are lines of trees and shrubs planted to protect cropland from wind erosion.
        • Riparian buffers describe plants such as trees, shrubs, grasses, and sedges that line the banks of a river. Riparian buffers help contain the river in times of increased stream flow and flooding.

• • • Living shorelines are another form of erosion control in wetland areas.
      • • Living shorelines are constructed by placing native plants, stone, sand, and even living organisms such as oysters along wetland coasts.
        • These plants help anchor the soil to the area, preventing erosion.
        • By securing the land, living shorelines establish a natural habitat.
        • They protect coastlines from powerful storm surges as well as erosion.