5 Steps for Steep Slopes and Embankments to Control Erosion

The soil will mostly remain where it is. However, there is a higher risk of erosion on steep slopes and embankments. The dirt cannot be allowed to wash away, thus every effort must be made to prevent this from happening. This is because to the possibility that it may not only cause the eroded region to become barren but also negatively impact the water supply and introduce pollutants. Furthermore, even the first layer of topsoil may take decades to restore, making knowledge on how to preserve topsoil crucial.

Some of the techniques that could be utilized to help stop or prevent erosion on steep slopes are given below.

Create a lawn and shrubs.

SlopeGrass and shrubs are excellent soil erosion barriers. This is partly because the soil is less likely to erode due to plant roots' tendency to retain the soil together. Additionally, raindrops that land on the ground are slower to move and are less likely to damage the soil thanks to the vegetation's leaves. The finest landscaping options are ornamental grass and low, spreading shrubs because they don't expose any bare soil to the weather.

Use erosion control blankets to cover slopes in vegetation.

Today's market is filled with a wide range of fiber, compostable, and biodegradable blankets and mats, all of which were created with the single goal of reducing the effects of water erosion on slopes and embankments. Typically, rolled mats are constructed from mulch and fiber mesh. When the mats have totally deteriorated, vegetation that may have been developed in the region will have had time to grow and take over the task of preventing soil erosion. While acting similarly to mulch materials, compost erosion control blankets also offer organic nutrients that support plant growth, especially in locations where germination, moisture control, and irrigation may be problematic.

Create terraces

If you want to try to slow down erosion on very steep slopes or embankments, planting vegetation might not be the best option because the slope might be too steep to support anything other than the toughest grass because of the erosion's rapid rate. If this is the case, you can think about creating terraces to aid in slowing erosion while the plant establishes itself. Any material, including wood, concrete blocks, and biomechanical systems, such as the Cascadia Green Wall's Filter Soxx with natural mulch/seed infill and geogrid for structural stability, can be used to construct terraces. The vegetation, such as grass or ornamental plants, can then be planted in the beds that the terraces' creations have made.

Make detours to aid drainage

Making diversions that direct surplus water down the slope along a specified course is one of the more efficient strategies to assist avoid erosion, depending on the steep of the slope or embankment. Making open ditches or drains by simply digging along the slope at regular intervals is one of the simplest ways to accomplish this. The use of pipes and gutters is also quite efficient and, when designed and constructed properly, functions just as well as natural drains.