Atterbury & Associates
Atterbury & Associates, Inc.
(T) 707.433.0134
(F) 707.433.0135
  • Home
  • Services
    • Civil Engineering
  • About us
  • Our Team
  • Projects
  • Blog
    • Subscribe
  • Contact Us

Post-Fire Soil Erosion Control

11/19/2015

3 Comments

 
Middletown fire
Wildfires have long been a feature of the ecosystem in California, and the local plant life has evolved to survive and even thrive in the wake of some low-intensity fires. However, more intense blazes can destroy critical groundcover and long-established plants, and can put the landscape at risk of even greater damage from soil erosion and hydrophobic soil.  

Hydrophobic Soil and Erosion

Not only will a fire destroy the trees, vines, shrubs, grasses and litter layer that bind the soil together and disperse rainwater evenly throughout the terrain, but the intense heat can also coat the soil in a waxy substance that actively repels water and increases runoff. The danger of soil erosion is greatest when: 
  • The litter layer has burned off, leaving the ground bare. 
  • The canopy has burned away.
  • The fire was intense.
  • Slopes are steep.
  • Rainfall is extreme (El Nino conditions). 
  • Soil appears to no longer absorb moisture.
​
Landowners who act quickly can protect their property from post-fire soil erosion. Effective erosion control measures include slash spreading, mulching and seeding, and installing log terraces, straw bales, waterbars or fiber rolls.

​Professional Assistance
​

Our team of experienced civil engineers can assist landowners in creating a plan for erosion control. To learn more, contact us at 707-433-0134, or find us on Facebook, Google+ and subscribe to our blog.
3 Comments
Steele Honda link
11/7/2017 04:17:01 am

I had no idea that intense heat can coat the soil in a waxy substance that actively repels water and increases runoff! I've just moved to the area where I would like to start a farm, and I've heard that earlier there were lots of wildfires. I will make sure to follow everything you suggest here - slash spreading, mulching and seeding, and installing log terraces, straw bales, waterbars or fiber rolls - in order to prevent the soil form corrosion or treat it with some professional help if it already has signs of corrosion.

Reply
Lilia Robberts link
7/17/2018 09:57:28 am

Fire has destroyed allot of my land. Thank you so much for sharing that if I fast that I can protect my land from post-fire soil erosion. I will have to look more into getting proper soil erosion services. This land was owned by my grandpa, and I want it to be nice for future generations.

Reply
Jeff Carbine link
2/3/2022 11:13:27 pm

I found it interesting when you said slash spreading, mulching, and seeding, as well as the installation of log terraces, straw bales, water bars, or fiber rolls, are all effective erosion control methods. I used to think differently about it not until you explained it briefly and it really got my attention. What you said about erosion control was really interesting to me.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Civil Engineering
    Community
    Company News
    Erosion Control
    Hiring A Civil Engineer
    Land Planning
    Local Events
    Perc Testing
    Permiting
    Septic System
    Stormwater
    Subdivision Planning
    Vineyard Development
    Wells

    Archives

    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014

from our blog

Our Mission

To satisfy our clients and develop long-term relationships by providing quality professional engineering services, honesty, and exceeding client expectations.

GET IN Touch

16109 Healdsburg Ave., Suite D
Healdsburg, CA 95448

(T) 707.433.0134
(F) 707.433.0135
Message Us

navigate

Home
Services
About us
Our Team
Projects
Contact us

Atterburry & Associates Inc. proudly serves; Sonoma County, Napa County, Marin County, Healdsburg, Calistoga, Sebastopol, Sonoma, Ukiah, Middletown, Lake County  and Santa Rosa.

©  Copyright 2012 - Atterbury and Associates, Inc.  All rights reserved.       
Privacy
Web Design and SEO by Fitz Designz