Frequently Asked Questions

What causes soil erosion?

Soil erosion happens naturally as water and wind pick up particles of earth and deposit them elsewhere. But many human activities speed up erosion and cause events that would not have occurred for hundreds of years (or never, in some cases) to happen within a matter of years or decades. Some common manmade causes of soil erosion include construction, agriculture, over-grazing livestock, logging, mining – anything that greatly reduces vegetation and leaves the soil bare.

What effects does erosion have on the ecology?

Erosion can have several negative effects, including the removal of the fertile top layers of soil (the humus and topsoil), the contamination of water supplies downstream, the obstruction of drainage channels, and the reshaping of the landscape in undesirable ways. Seeds may be washed away along the erosion route and new vegetation buried before it can mature, creating a cycle of erosion that is difficult to break.

Q. What are the different types of erosion?

Erosion may be caused by water, wind, or tillage (man’s overturning of the soil for agricultural use). Specific types of water erosion include bank erosion, which affects rivers and streams, rill erosion, where runoff creates small channels and gullies as it flows downhill, and sheet erosion, where water uniformly washes away the topsoil.

What is sediment capture?

Sediment capture is the removal of sediment from flowing water to prevent or slow erosion. This is accomplished in many different ways, from slowing down the velocity of the water through silt fences, waddles, or baffles, to the creation of sediment basins, where water can stand until the sediment settles out naturally.

What is shoreline erosion?

Beaches and shorelines are exposed to high levels of natural erosion, as the wind, waves, and rain wash sediment into the ocean or lake. Unwise development of these properties, however, can cause a harmful degree of erosion to occur. The creation of artificial beaches, removal of natural vegetation, and the creation of bulkheads and retaining walls expedite this kind of erosion.

How do you combat shoreline erosion?

Shoreline erosion is best remediated by imitating the natural state of the shoreline. This includes replanting with native vegetation, creating gentle slopes instead of steep banks, contour waddling to slow water velocity down a slope, and – in extreme cases – the installation of riprap along the bank. These and other erosion control methods are chosen on a case-by-case basis according to the unique needs of the shoreline.

What types of projects do you do?

We partner with construction companies and government entities to perform erosion control on projects of every size and scope, from large infrastructure projects to small construction sites. Some of our past projects have included:

• Waste Water Treatment Plants
• Landfills
• Airports
• Solar Farms
• Athletic Fields
• Commercial Projects
• Industrial Projects

Are you licensed?

Yes! We carry a current North Carolina Landscape Contractors License, a North Carolina Irrigation Contractors License, and a North Carolina Pesticide License. We are also a certified woman-owned business enterprise, and a NCDOT small business enterprise and subcontractor.