When land doesn’t weather the storm

You’ve recently bought a lakeside property. Or, your family has owned ranch property on a river for generations. You love spending time on the water with your family and friends or you use the nearby water source to irrigate your lawn. Living by the water in the Brazos River basin provides Texans with scenic views, a unique lifestyle and proximity to one of our greatest natural resources.

However, the state of Texas, including the Brazos River basin, can experience climate extremities in short time spans. Whether its drought, heavy flooding or even snow, these natural occurrences can create issues with soil erosion, resulting in the loss of land and creating structural concerns for property owners.

But what exactly is erosion? According to the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Extension, erosion is the “wearing away, washing away or removal of soil from the earth’s surface by water, wind or man.” Erosion can be prompted by human causes, like land clearing, livestock grazing, vehicular traffic, and more. But erosion is also caused by natural occurrences, like rain, wind and rock type. All these factors determine the extent of erosion and the rate at which it occurs.

Erosion doesn’t occur overnight—there are stages of erosion that progress over an extended period. A landslide would be the only occurrence that could be considered “instant erosion.” First, a change in vegetation will occur from either natural or human causes such as purposeful removal of vegetation to improve water views. If the vegetation does not have time to recover, run-off and streamflow or wave action will begin to chisel away at the soil. Wind and frost will expedite this process. If the vegetation is not restored, the gullies in the soil will expand and expose the rocks underneath soil.

Water is a primary natural agent of weathering and erosion issues. During times of high precipitation, it is water that carries away the soil and causes severe erosion. Rainfall that is not absorbed by soil, intercepted by vegetation, or captured by ponds or reservoirs, becomes runoff. People who live near rivers or have lake-side property often experience soil erosion where vegetation is damaged and no other erosion control measures are employed. According to the Agricultural Research Service, there are four basic types of water erosion:

• Sheet erosion occurs when a thin layer of soil is removed from a large area of land so that the erosion has large breadth but little depth.
• Rill erosion occurs when narrow and deep channels are carved by running water.
• Gully erosion occurs when shallow and wide channels are carved by running water.
• Splash erosion occurs as a result of the impact of water that can move portions of soil as far as 3 feet at once.

Erosion affects the earth in different ways. It can create beautiful landscaping, like the Grand Canyon or the Palo Dura Canyon. But, unchecked, it can also destroy animal habitats, people’s properties and livelihoods. During times of extreme flooding, the course of the river can be changed due to heavy erosion. Erosion can even tamper with water quality. The displacement of soil and sediment can be washed into rivers and other bodies of water, causing pesticides or fertilizers in the eroded soil to dispense into the water.

Erosion remains a widespread environmental problem in Texas, especially for Texans who live by the water. So, what can be done? The Natural Resources Conservation Service (once known as the Soil Conservation Service) recommends a variety of methods to help reduce water erosion.

• Planting vegetation leads to root systems in the soil, which helps to stabilize it and prevent erosion. Select plants that are low maintenance and deep rooting. A combination of trees, shrubs and ground covers will attract more wildlife and break up rainfall, which will help with erosion. Placing geotextile fabrics in problem areas can also help stabilize soil.
• Adding a layer of mulch to the soil can help soak up extra water, thereby reducing additional runoff and erosion.
• Placing large rocks, usually referred to as riprap, on shoreland is a common form of protection against erosion. Geotextile fabric can also be placed beneath rock riprap to prevent soil loss through the rock openings.
• Retaining walls can also be built to prevent water runoff. Retaining walls, especially when combined with other methods of erosion prevention, can have a significant positive impact.

Some erosion remedies could require permits from either the Brazos River Authority or from the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Those experiencing moderate erosion on agricultural property can contact their local NRCS and/or Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office for assistance, both technical and financial. Those who are experiencing serious erosion issues should contact an environmental engineering firm who may then assess their specific concerns and offer potential solutions. While there is a financial cost involved in addressing erosion, restoring eroded sites at its early stages can prevent large-scale damage.

To learn more about soil and water conservation efforts in Texas, click here.