Planning for Soil and Water Conservation

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The dictionary defines erosion as the “process of eroding or being eroded by wind, water, or other natural agents.” What the dictionary does not tell you, however, is how much havoc erosion wreaks across the world every day, or how to stop this steadily growing problem. Even though the term “force of nature” refers to something that cannot be stopped, scientists around the globe are trying to come up with a solution.

Soil erosion occurs when the top layer of soil gets transported to a new place, usually by forces of wind, water, or farming.

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This soil, once moved, often builds up in bodies of water, where it contributes highly to water pollution and flooding. The rate at which soil is eroded depends on many factors, such as vegetation, the amount of rainfall, and the slope of the land. Raindrops beating on the soil will break it up, and then the water will run downhill and carry away some of the soil.

Finer soil such as sand and silt are more lightweight and easier to be carried away by fierce wind and rushing water.

Although natural soil erosion occurs every day and is not a problem, a process called advanced soil erosion is a subject for consideration. When natural soil erosion occurs, the sand and dirt can be replenished at around the same rate as it is being washed away. Accelerated soil erosion, however, destroys soil at such an alarming rate that it would take thousands of years to be replenished.

Accelerated soil erosion is caused by human factors such as tilling, overgrazing animals, and excavating the land for building and farming. The land was not meant to be farmed and uprooted in that way, so it makes the soil very loose and weak. Then, when the soil is hit by waves, wind, or storms, it moves in huge piles away from the source. This causes problems both where the erosion is taking place, and off-source, which is where it ends up. Once soil in a certain area has been eroded, every time the process continues to happen, the soil gets worse and worse. The moving water can cause problems such as built up islands, gullies, ditches, steeper land, and large and dangerous ditches. Soil erosion also demolishes land for growing food and building houses.

Of course, though, with every problem, the human brain is wired to come up with a solution. Measures such as planting trees and vegetation, landscaping, using sediment barriers, and keeping grazing, tilling, and excavating to a minimum will provide momentous results. Studies have shown that using multiple methods of soil erosion control in one spot lessons the task for each method, and in the long run, proves to be more cost effective. Solutions such as like gully plugs, retention ponds, contour ripping, and composting are creative solutions that places like Fort Hood have come up with to help collect eroded soil and lesson soil erosion in the first place.

Every time you research soil erosion in in Texas, results overwhelmingly point to our coastline. It is important to solve the most important and pressing problems before you move on to the smaller, less significant issues. Every year due to crashing waves and tourists, our Gulf shrinks at a rate of 4.1 feet per year, which is certainly a problem. If this trend continues, our coast may soon be completely gone, along with the homes, storefronts, and vacationers that reside there. How I suggest solving the problem is to first do some research and figure out if there is an innovative, simple, and cost-effective way to either collect the sand being eroded, or to stop it from being eroded in the first place. Meanwhile, planting seaweed or other ocean-based vegetation will help to keep the sand in place. Occasionally, pouring sand back onto the beach will replenish some of the resources that have been lost. I went to a beach once that had huge rocks put in place to help break the waves before they pounded on the sand, so using a similar method will be helpful as well. Basically, any precaution that will decrease the amount of water and wind that passes over the sand will take gigantic steps toward saving our coastline.

Although erosion is a natural process that occurs every day without really affecting us, humans should try to learn everything they can about what is affecting our earth and come up with new and effective solutions to preserve our beautiful planet for generations to come.

Sources

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/engineer/facts/12-053.htm
https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-effects-solutions-of-soil-erosion.php
http://soilerosion.net/what_is_erosion.html
https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/management/soil/erosion/management
http://twri.tamu.edu/publications/thx2o/fall-2008/combating-soil-erosion