Erosion is the loss of exposed soil caused by the action of rain, snowmelt or wind.
Erosion control measures such as the use of use of silt fence and hay bales to temporarily prevent soil from being carried away in a storm, and seeding to permanently cover and stabilize an exposed area, were required in order to prevent damage to fish habitat in streams, and to reduce the movement of pollutants such as phosphorus, to lakes. Unfortunately, requiring the use of these measures only in shoreland areas has not been enough to protect streams and lakes. Basic, good-practice, erosion control measures need to be used throughout watersheds, not just in immediate shoreland areas. The Erosion and Sedimentation Control Law was enacted by the Legislature in 1997 as an important step in addressing this need. If a person is filling, displacing or exposing soil or other earthen materials, the Erosion Control Law requires that he or she take measures to prevent unreasonable erosion of soil or sediment beyond the site or into a protected natural resource, such as a river, stream, brook, lake, pond, or wetland.