Alabama Soil and Water Blog Spot

  This is a picture of what a site should look like where erosion and sediment control are a priority.   I recently read an article about a construction site that was just finalized.  The author was excited that the job was completed and one statement caught my eye.    “All the vegetation work was completed on the final day of the project.”   The only question I ask is, WHY?  Surely some of the vegetation could have been completed as areas within the project were finished.  Remember, it’s not “business as usual” anymore.  Exposed soil should be covered with vegetation or landscaping at every opportunity and NOT the LAST opportunity. Leaving areas bare over long periods of time exposes the soil surface to erosion.     Mark your Calendar.  Clear Water Alabama will be September 20-21, 2023, in NW Alabama.   Perry L Oakes, PE Erosion and Sediment Control Program Coordinator AL Soil and Water Conserva...

  Concentrated flow areas across the landscape can be everything from a roadside ditch all the way to a river. The land adjacent to these concentrated flow areas need vegetative cover.  These areas are often referred to as a riparian zone for streams, creeks, and rivers.  Riparian areas provide the last line of defense against non-point source pollution from entering our Waters of the State.  Why people spray roadside ditches or stream banks with herbicide or worse yet diesel fuel to kill the vegetation is beyond me.  I hope it is just a case of not understanding.  Make it a point in your daily routine to help others understand the importance of the natural “living filter” around concentrated flow areas.   (Thanks to Eve Brantley and Skip Ragsdale for the excellent photography work.)   Perry L Oakes, PE Erosion and Sediment Control Program Coordinator AL Soil and Water Conservation Committee