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Where does all the water go?
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Making better use...
Wood salvaged from local demoltions debris can be
composted, which has yielded here, a three inch minus
material that is optimal for stabilizing slopes.
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Ag-Bag
There are a number of advantages to using the Ag-Bag system
developed by Ag-Bag International, Inc. This is a completely
enclosed system which allows us to regulate the temperature
during the material's break down process. This is important
because it allows us to kill off any harmful pathogens or
rogue seed. That is way we can insure that our product is
absolutely sterile, but full of the beneficial microorganisms
that will bring back life to any project.
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Along with the pleasant summers the North Coast is famous for, it has a reputation for an amazing amount
of rainfall. Where does all the water go? All that green vegetation crawling around should shed some
light on the subject. However one of the growing concerns for many residents is erosion. Indeed that water
has to go somewhere, and erosion can drastically effect a homeowner’s investment. This couldn’t be any more
evident than in a hillside community, where a resident’s decision to be proactive about erosion control can
change the circumstances of everyone else around them.
After a storm, it is estimated that half of the water that collects on the grounds surface and the surrounding
vegetation evaporates. Thirty-five percent will saturate into the ground, leaving the remaining 15 percent to
runoff and eventually collect at some point. The introduction of buildings, roads, and heavy traffic, changes
the whole dynamics of storm water displacement. When concrete and asphalt start to crowd out native vegetation,
the area is being stripped of its natural ability to collect water for storage and evaporation. Surface runoff
an then claim almost seventy percent of the rainfall, which introduces erosion
The top few inches of soil houses most of the living organisms responsible for keeping the ground fertile. These
organisms rely on the porosity if the soil to survive. Porosity is the free space in the soil where air and water
can penetrate. A larger base of organisms provides more nutrients to the ground which, in turn, promotes healthier
vegetation. Porosity also provides a malleable base in which plants can spread their roots with ease. Larger root
systems provide healthier plants, surface stability, and eventually, more porosity. It is a cycle, that when
interrupted, takes several decades to re-establish on its own.
As the flow of runoff increases, it gradually removes the top layer of soil. Often what is exposed is a hard
compacted surface, such as clay or rock, in which little can grow. This process is accelerated on hillsides where
the runoff continues to gain momentum as it flows. The displacement of the soil itself provides the catalyst for a
host of environmental issues.
Although storm water management, in most circumstances, is more adequately provided for during construction and site
development, the real problem rests beneath the surface. Ironically, the prerequisite to any construction project is
to provide a compacted surface to lay a foundation. Even surrounding areas, where no construction is to take place,
will often be graded, leveled, or manipulated in some fashion as part of the property. Soil compaction occurs any
time the ground is disturbed, much like a footprint.
As the soil is compressed, air ways are restricted, killing the organisms that maintain healthy soil. It is similar
to taking an apartment building that houses 500 people, crushing it down to half the size, while still expecting
the same amount of people to live in it. Much like the post-hole syndrome, once the hole is dug, even with the post
in place, there never really enough of the original to fill in the gap. Once the porosity of the soil is removed,
the chain is broken. Previously productive soil is, literally, gone with the wind – or worse yet, washed into the
nearest storm water basin.
What is really fascinating is to watch the neighbor on the slopes above remove a row of trees to get a better view.
Compound the problem of soil compaction with removing a stable root system on a slope; that spells a hefty amount
of long term maintenance. This is maintenance that many aren’t aware is necessary. The same goes for removing trees
and other heavy vegetation near creeks and streams. It is always good to get a second opinion. The aftermath is
often underestimated, and costly to correct when the dynamics of the stream changes, washing out a neighbors property.
This opens up the question of responsibility. Erosion control in many cases is often left unmanaged and under-regulated,
leaving homeowners to incur the costs of preventative measures as the need arises. Unfortunately, most erosion control
situations are addressed after the damage is already done. The homeowner is then liable for a project that must be
engineered by a geotechnician. It’s a shame to see situations where a homeowner is forced to expend a large sum of
money just to retain the value of the property.
There is good news though. Quite a bit can be accomplished by restoring soil health in areas where severe erosion
is occurring. Stunted vegetation is addressed by providing porosity to the present soil first. Strengthening the
vegetation, in this way, promotes a healthy root system needed to anchor productive soil in place. Regaining an
areas natural ability to address storm water has a compounding effect if addressed by everyone involved.
The quickest way to restore the porosity is by tilling in three inches of compost with nine inches of the existing
compacted soil. Compost provides a host of organisms and the nutrients along with the medium to develop them. One
method of applying compost that’s becoming popular is using a high powered blower unit to distribute the material
evenly, Situations will vary per application, but the goal is to provide a foundation, where over time, the natural
porosity will eventually be restored. In heavily sloped areas, different seed mixtures can also be introduced to
accelerate a root system where the soil needs to be stabilized more quickly.
If a large amount of storm water had to flow through an area, the goal should be to minimize the turbidity. That is,
to make sure the water flows clean and clear with minimal displacement of sediment. This can be controlled very
effectively with mature compost material in the form of berms, usually formed a foot high by two feet wide.
When water is expected to be clipping along at a considerable pace, compost socks can be quite effective. Instead
of a free standing berm, this sock material can be filled with compost to provide more stability. The socks are
biodegradable, which means that they can be left in place. Seasoned with a little grass seed, they are an aesthetic
alternative to standard silt fencing, with little need of maintenance.
Erosion control doesn’t have to be an expensive proposition. If you would like to know more about preventative
maintenance, contact Trails End Recovery at (503) 861-6030. It is by working together as a community that we can
help safeguard each others investments.
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The proceeding article, provided by Trails End Recovery, appeared in the Fall, 2004 edition of North Coast Living.
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