What is Erosion Control?

Erosion Control is the practice of preventing or controlling water or wind erosion in agriculture, land development and construction. This usually involves the creation of some sort of physical barrier, such as vegetation or rock, to absorb some of the energy of the water or wind that is causing the erosion. Examples of erosion control methods include: cellular confinement systems, conservation tillage, hydroseeding, gabions, GreenArmour System, mulching, reforestation, riprap, tackified straw blowing, terracing, vegetated waterways, or wattles.

Why Practice Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control?

Eroded particles of soil, or sediments, can easily be moved by flowing water and end up in natural waterbodies. As sediments can cause so much damage to receiving waterbodies, preventing erosion from occurring, and then controlling any that does occur, is essential to protection of natural streams, rivers and salt water ecosystems. Sediment in waterbodies can reduce the amount of sunlight reaching aquatic plants, clog or abrade fish gills causing suffocation.

In Canada, the Fisheries Act prohibits the deposit or release of a deleterious (toxic) substance to fish bearing waters. In high concentration, sediment is recognized as a deleterious substance. Most municipalities have bylaws making it illegal to allow sediment laden water to enter municipal storm drains or ditches.