The Scope of the Problem
The high desert is a climate of extremes.  In one day, you can experience 50 mph wind gusts followed by a summer thunderstorm that can drop a ¼ of our yearly average rainfall in an afternoon.  Even in undisturbed areas, these elements have a huge impact on the environment.  The result is soil loss.  You can see soil erosion almost anywhere in the state.  Some places are worse than others.  Soil erosion rates are highest in construction areas.  The biggest factor is soil disturbance and the loss of native vegetation. The use of heavy machinery during construction activities often leaves tracks that may concentrate water flow and create accelerated erosion of the already disturbed soils. It is inevitable that a portion of the ground be disturbed in developing areas, but it can be stabilized and reclaimed.    By stabilizing the ground, native or other perennial vegetation can become established, creating a vegetative canopy that can intercept and slow water before it hits the ground and reduces wind speed along the surface of the soil.  The root system of plants creates an underground matrix, helping to stabilize soils and prevent erosion.  Without native vegetation, soil loss rates increase 200 times or more.  When soils are disturbed, it takes many years for vegetation to re-establish itself.  After the first rains, invasive pioneer species such as Russian thistle start growing.  The native vegetation cannot compete with the fast growing invaders.   As a result, we see rapid loss of soil during wind and rain storms.

Why is Erosion Bad?
Soil erosion results in sediment in waterways, air pollution, expensive reclamation of eroded areas, loss of native vegetation and destruction of bridges and roads. Soil carries pollutants with it. Uncontrolled surface water movement is destructive; water stored safely in the soil is productive.  Extreme stormwater runoff will destroy buildings down-slope and deposit large amounts of soil on roads.  Such erosion costs the home construction industry, local government, and homeowners millions of dollars a year. 

How do We Stop Erosion?
Soilutions has trained erosion control specialists.  Owner Jim Brooks is an erosion control expert and member of the International Erosion Control Association who, specializes in Stormwater Management for Urban Environments. He has received numerous soil and water conservation awards.   How we can help depends on your stage of homeownership.  If you are in the planning stages of building we suggest you have us come out and design an erosion control plan.  The best time to address erosion is before it happens. We consider site specifics when deciding appropriate erosion control techniques. Countless homeowners rely on contractors untrained in hydro-dynamics to implement erosion control plans that inevitably fail. In the end they spend twice as much.  So why not do it right from the beginning?

If you have erosion problems at an existing house, we can help.  We have a long list of earthworks and techniques that we use to control surface water and prevent soil erosion.

What we offer:
-Slope stabilization
-Soil stabilization
-Earthworks
-Gabion instillation
-Streambed crossings
-Mulching to prevent erosion
-Stormwater retention
-Move water safely from the house
-Arroyo reclamation

Contours
Swales
Berms
Surge Basins
Sponges
Mulch
Straw Wattles
Gabions
Examples