Prevent Erosion in 4 Simple Steps

Erosion.

With an El Niño headed our way, erosion is rapidly becoming a topic of concern. After several years of drought, much of our soil has become dry and severely compacted. Significant storms could mean flooding, mudslides and property damage. However, there’s no need to sound the alarm. Now is the perfect time to take action.

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Erosion is a natural process, but we can take simple steps to keep soil healthy and in place. If we take action before the storms hit, we can limit erosion, stabilize slopes and better manage stormwater that falls on our homes. That’s good news!

Ready to get started? Here are a few simple ways you can prepare:

Assess Your Home

Take a look at your property. When it rains, where will water flow? Are there spots where water will puddle, or run downhill? If so, take steps to divert that water off your property and away from the slope. If you live on a hillside, use this fact sheet to learn how to manage water that falls on your land. 

 

Look at Your Yard

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It isn’t too late to start planting! Smart landscaping isn’t just beautiful. It can reduce flooding, replenish the aquifer in some areas and cut down on water pollution. Rain gardens, bioswales, native plants and trees are great ways to capture water. Keep in mind, if you have bare soil on a hillside, consider hiring a professional landscaper. They can offer assistance in choosing the right plants to keep your soil secure!

 

Mulch, Mulch, Mulch!

When it comes to erosion, mulching is like magic. Mulch slows down the flow of water, acting as a sponge, and stores it in our landscapes. It’s easy, inexpensive and makes a huge difference!

 

Install Rain Barrels and Tanks

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We can’t stress this one enough. Capturing stormwater is essential to the future of life in LA. Rainwater harvesting allows us to reuse it in our yards, preventing polluted runoff from being dumped in the ocean. Furthermore, local stormwater capture replenishes groundwater sources in some areas  and keeps the LA River from flooding during heavy storms.

The best part? Rain barrels are essentially FREE after rebates. Why wouldn’t you take advantage of this incredible way to save water AND money? (PS: Want to go BIGGER? Maybe it’s time to install a cistern!) 

Looking for more ways to prevent erosion? Attend a workshop! Visit our website to find FREE workshops across LA, to show you how you can capture the rain, dig in with soil and transform your landscape!

By Erika Abdelatif

Erika Abdelatif is TreePeople’s Social Media and Digital Content Manager. When she isn't creating a climate-resilient LA via the Facebook, she's probably writing in a coffee shop, infesting the internet with memes, or watching an open mic.