Designing an Effective Erosion Plan

If your yard turns into a bog every time it rains, there are some simple things you can do to prevent it from happening after every downpour. Designing a good erosion plan doesn’t need to be complicated.

In fact, it’s really about three things: knowing your site, using the right tools, and checking things now and then so small problems don’t turn into bigger ones.

Have a Good Look Around First

Walk the site and ask yourself these questions:

• Where does water run off?
• Which parts are steep?
• What’s the soil like? Is it fine like sand, or does it have a clay-like texture?

Steep slopes and loose soil are problematic. Think of water as a cheeky kid on a slide: it’ll pick the easiest path and take your soil with it. Knowing where the source of the problem is first makes everything else easier.

Implement a Range of Solutions

One fix on its own usually isn’t enough. Think of your erosion plan like making a sandwich, you have two slices of bread holding a generous filling of cheese and pickle to curb your hunger. It’s the same for your erosion control measures to have the desired effect, you’ll need multiple steps for the best protection.

• Top Layer: Keep the soil covered. Plant grass or lay down mulch. This acts like a blanket over the soil, keeping it from washing or blowing away.

• Middle Layer: Slow the water down. Dig small trenches or create barriers with coir logs or sandbags. They work like speed bumps, making the water move slower so it doesn’t carry the soil away.

• Filter Layer: Trap the dirt. Use coir logs that will let water through but catch the mud, so it doesn’t all end up at the bottom of your slope.

• Final Step: Clear up the water. Sometimes, even after slowing things down and trapping the dirt, the water can still look a bit muddy. That’s where products like silt socks, silt fences, and coir logs are useful. You can lay a silt sock across a drain, and it will let water through but trap the mud. A silt fence works like a little wall to stop dirt from moving downhill. Coir logs sit along a slope or at the bottom to slow the water and catch extra soil. It’s a simple extra step that makes a big difference just like using a coffee filter or cafetiere, so you don’t end up with gritty grounds floating in your beverage.

Check it, Then Check it Again

For the plan to be most effective, you can’t just follow these steps once and never again. After heavy rain or any digging, have a look at your control measures. If the water’s back to coming through muddy, tweak things.

You could add another silt sock, put more mulch on a bare patch, or fix a trench that’s been washed out. Little fixes now prevent big headaches later.

If in Doubt, Call the Professionals

If your site has big slopes, poor drainage, or local regulations especially if the site is near a creek or river, it pays to get an expert in. They’ll make sure your plan works and meets any rules you must follow, saving you money and stress in the long run.

Try out these easy erosion control steps, and when you need a bit of extra help, call on Aussie Environmental. We’ve spent over a decade keeping properties like yours safe from water and soil damage.