Erosion: Upland (continued)

Causes of Upland Erosion include:

Removal of vegetation that buffers the water from the land. Concentrated runoff. Trampling or compacting soil. Improper placement or excessive amounts of gutters, driveways, paths, and impervious surfaces (roads, roofs, parking lots, driveways) that change and increase runoff patterns across the land.

Runoff from the road and parking area of the Maple Lake public access in Marcell, Minnesota had created a gully near the shoreline, carrying unwanted sediment into the lake.

To remedy this problem, a soil berm was created along the parking lot edge closest to the lake to redirect the runoff into a vegetated area. The berm was then planted with trees, shrubs, flowers and grasses.

For an example of correcting upland erosion from a drain culvert, see the Gervais Lake demo site.