What Are The Different Types Of Soil Erosion and How To Identify Them

Soil erosion in Florida tends to happen very slowly over time and many times people won't even notice that it's happening until it becomes an issue. With that said, though, it can also happen very quickly when you least expect it. Not only can this cause damage to property, but it can also make the water source look unappealing or cause various wildlife to lose their homes. To help you find the best erosion control companies in Florida, we've listed the most common types of erosion for the area, as well as provided some tips for preventing or slowing down future erosion.


Types of Erosion in Florida
The four main types of soil erosion in Florida include rainfall and surface runoff, water erosion, tunnel erosion, and bank erosion. Take a look below to learn more about these types.

1. Rainfall & Surface Runoff
This is one of the main types of soil erosion in Florida and happens due to rainfall. There are four main ways rainfall causes erosion, which we talk about below.

Rill
Rills are around 12 inches deep and are shallow drain lines. As the water flows through overtime, the soil begins to break apart and get washed down the stream. While it might not be a big deal now, it can lead to hills and divots that can cause a lot more damage.

Splash
This happens when the raindrops hit the soil causing it to separate into several smaller pieces. The little pieces will sit as a crust on top of the soil until wind or water comes and washes it away. This is a big issue in those areas that get excessive amounts of rainfall.

Gully
Gully erosion is the one that causes the most damage and makes it extremely difficult to save the area. It happens when there's a lot of runoff happening in one place. Examples include springs or small waterfalls. As the water comes down, it has enough force to take chunks of soil away. It can go anywhere from 2m to 15m deep.

Sheet
This type of erosion happens when something like runoff or heavy rain happens. They cause a thin layer of soil to come loose and be washed away. It usually happens slowly over a period of time and isn't obvious until a large amount of soil gets washed away. Areas that don't have any coverage from vegetation or plants will lose soil quicker than those with.


2. Water Erosion
This type of erosion happens as water flows along the same path over a period of time. These will start as vertical valleys that are shaped like a V, then they will become steeper over time. Once the water hits the bottom, the erosion will start going sideways.

3. Tunnel Erosion
Tunnel erosion happens as water goes through small cracks or holes and washes away bits of soil. As time goes on and more water flows through, the tunnel becomes both wider and deeper.

4. Bank Erosion
The final type of erosion is bank erosion, which is when the banks of ponds or lakes start getting washed away. While this happens over time, flooding can cause it to happen faster and some banks can be completely washed away.


How to Prevent Erosion
Listed below is a bullet list that includes a few tips for helping prevent soil erosion. As long as you have a water source located on your property, you won't have to get any kind of special clearances to do any of these.

• Make the shore stronger by adding things like rocks or rip sheets.
• Use plants and vegetation that's native to the area.
• Build a retaining wall or bulkhead.
• Talk to your professional erosion control specialist to see what suggestions they have.