ABSTRACT
In 1997, the United States lost almost 970 million metric tons of soil through erosion by water.[1] Soil erosion has always taken place and always will. It is a natural process. The surface of the earth is continually undergoing what might be called a ‘‘face lift in slow motion.’’ Slowly, the coastline is receding, the hills and mountaintops are being carried down to the valleys, and the river deltas are being enlarged. The form of erosion that occurs naturally, without man’s influence, is called geologic erosion. Some of the best examples of geologic erosion are the Grand Canyon, the Badlands of South Dakota, the canyons of Utah, and the great river valleys. Without human interference, geologic erosion would occur at a low rate on level land; and on gentle slopes, erosion would only be a minor problem. In humid areas there is an ideal environment for plant growth, and thus, there would be protective cover for the soil, thereby further slowing the rate of erosion.
