Erosion control is important in construction and landscaping to prevent environmental features from being washed away. Techniques range from drainage systems to planting plants with spreading roots and using fibrous mats or retaining walls. A combination of methods is often necessary.
Erosion control is a process commonly employed in construction, landscaping, and other fields to prevent soil, rock, plant matter, and other environmental features from being washed away by wind or rain. Erosion control can be very important, as the removal of certain landscape features can severely damage the aesthetic or functional value of a given piece of land. In some cases, such as when structures are built on or near slopes, erosion can even pose risks to the integrity of the structures themselves. Civil engineers, landscapers, and others use a wide variety of techniques, ranging from planting plants with spreading fibrous roots to developing elaborate drainage systems, to control erosion.
Some erosion control methods simply aim to divert the forces causing erosion away from the surface of interest. Rain, for example, tends to flow down slopes and across gaps in the landscape, carrying soil and other solids with it. One possible erosion control method is simply to install a drainage system that completely bypasses the erosive surface. This method may not completely stop or prevent the problem, but it can keep most of the water flowing away from the surface in question. In many cases, developing such a drainage system just means digging a path for the water, which can be done for little or no cost.
Effective drainage systems are not always the best methods of erosion control. They can, for example, detract from the aesthetic value of an area or the erosion itself can be caused by something other than water. In such cases, it is usually necessary to reinforce the erosive surface in some way. Some plants, for example, may be beneficial because their roots provide a sort of “net” to hold up the soil and keep it from being blown away or blown away. Placing a layer of wood chips or similar materials over the erosive surface can also provide limited erosion control.
More drastic methods of erosion control are sometimes required, particularly on steep, sandy slopes with little natural support. Some people, for example, choose to place fibrous mats over or under a layer of soil to prevent erosion. Other options include retaining walls which, when well placed, can provide strong support areas for soil or sand and prevent large-scale erosion. However, often there is no best option and a combination of different erosion control methods must be used.
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