Erosion is inevitable in any environment that receives rain. Water will inevitably wash away loose soil and other surface material, leveling land, creating channels, and otherwise interrupting the landscape. Proper care can help reduce erosion so that its impacts are minimal or occur over only extremely long timespans, but stopping it altogether is often impossible.
However, water's relentless onslaught doesn't mean that you can simply ignore erosion problems. Instead, it's crucial to understand when erosion may be severe enough near your home that you need to take action and repair the damage. These three signs may indicate an erosion issue on your property that will require immediate attention.
1. Exposed Foundation
If you live in an area where basement or crawlspace foundations are standard, you should regularly check near your basement walls. Watch for any indications that valleys or gulleys are forming near the foundation, and be especially aware of signs that water is pooling in these areas. While water should run away from your foundation, it shouldn't carry much topsoil with it.
Exposed foundation walls are particularly problematic. Look for signs that you may be losing soil close to the foundation, such as visible concrete below grade compared to the rest of the wall or visibly dirty areas. If you're losing soil near your foundation, you'll need an expert to evaluate the problem and fix your drainage issues.
2. Exposed Topsoil
You probably don't have much intentionally exposed topsoil if you have a yard or garden around your home. If you notice that sections of your lawn are suddenly turning brown, dying, and reducing themselves to bare soil, you may want to look for signs of erosion damage. Pay careful attention to determine if the damaged areas lie along water drainage paths.
Exposed topsoil in a water drainage channel can quickly grow out of control since those barren areas lack the plants' root structures. Without this help to keep the soil in place, erosion will accelerate and your lawn will lose more soil, potentially leading to substantial grading issues that may even threaten your home's foundation.
3. Flooding and Ponding
Has your lawn suddenly developed a tiny lake? Water features can be appealing, but unplanned and ephemeral ponds usually aren't what most homeowners are after. Water that floods or ponds in parts of your lawn after a heavy rain area indicates that the grade of your property has changed. You may also have subsidence below ground, allowing the land to "sink."
If you notice these problems, you may want to have your property evaluated to determine if erosion is to blame so you can take corrective action. Allowing the problem to continue for too long can destroy your lawn in the flooded areas and ultimately lead to more severe water drainage and erosion problems.
For more information, turn to a company such as Drax Inc.
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