Erosion Control Forum.com Blog

Fluvial Processes Sediments are most often transported by water (fluvial processes), wind processes) and glaciers. Beach sands and river channel deposits are examples of fluvial transport and deposition, though sediment also often settles out of slow-moving or standing water in lakes and oceans. Desert sand dunes and loess are examples of aeolian transport and deposition. Glacial moraine deposits and till are ice-transported sediments A grim reminder of the widespread result(s) of sediment is exacerbated with the all-too-common warning of resulting and uncontrolled erosion. A survey on the sources of sediment pollution resulted in the warning for citizens not to harvest vegetables grown on artificial wetlands. We must take steps to mitigate erosion

Green Payments A new USDA study shows that farmers using combinations of erosion-control and nutrient-management practices on cultivated cropland are reducing losses of sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorous from farm fields and decreasing the movement of these materials to the Great Lakes and their associated waterways. New USDA Report Capitol Hill is a scrum of lobbyists fighting over a shrinking budget these days, and farm subsidies are under attack as never before. Some of those subsidies appear likely to die. But let's talk about one kind of farm subsidy, one that environmentalists are fighting to preserve. Believe it or not, so are the people who run the water systems in American cities. This week, some of these groups wrote a letter to Congress asking lawmakers to keep funding these programs. We're talking about "conservation" subsidies. Some people call them "green payments" and they add up to about $5 billion each year. Under these programs, the govern...

Brownfield Sites Asbestos was widely used in all types of buildings until about 30 years ago. As a result, asbestos-contaminated soils are often present on brownfield sites – before, during, and after redevelopment. We frequently come across high levels of asbestos contamination in gardens and community recreation areas. During dry weather, asbestos can easily become airborne as a result of any soil disturbance, for example from children playing, gardening, and major construction activities. Asbestos-contaminated soil can easily be transferred indoors on shoes or carried on vehicle wheels to public highways, causing additional, secondary exposures. Tailored risk assessments and asbestos management procedures, appropriate for the current/planned use of affected ground, are required to avoid increased risks of lung cancer and mesothelioma. Although statistics show a growing number of people who have never worked with asbestos are suffering from an asbestos-related disease, most documen...