Erosion

Erosion is the wearing away, washing away, or removal of soil from the earth's surface by water, wind, or man. Often, erosion is caused by a combination of factors. Human factors such as military training, livestock grazing, and vehicular traffic combine with natural forces such as rain, wind, rock type, and type of vegetation to determine the extent of erosion and the rate at which it occurs.

Stages of erosion:

• Trampling, either natural or human, causes a change in vegetation from taller plants, to shorter grasses.
• In extreme conditions trampling caused the mat of vegetation and roots to break up and expose the soil.
• If vegetation is unable to recover, then water run-off, combined with wind and frost begins to chisel out gullies.
• Further trampling combined with water, wind, and frost action soon enlarges the gully and exposes the rocks beneath the soil.
• This area will continue to widen and worsen with time.

Why control erosion?

Not only is eroded ground unsightly, but it can severely impair the value of the land and permanently destroy habitats including quality training grounds. Also, soils and vegetation support one another and it is vital to maintain that balance for the surrounding habitats and water quality. Restoring eroded sites at early stages can prevent more serious, large-scale damage will be less expensive to carry out.