Erosion is much less costly to prevent than it is to repair.
Even a small erosion gully can involve many cubic meters of soil that must be collected from the bottom of the slope and replaced at a cost of hundreds, or more likely, thousands of dollars. Erosion can limit plant establishment from seeds and destroy irrigation systems and installed landscaping. Costs are also transferred to others directly through increased flooding, sedimentation and subsequent flooding damage. Sediment also causes serious damage to aquatic and riparian ecosystems. In 1998 we reported on research to find materials that can provide erosion control, enhance native seed germination, and control weeds without harm to wildlife.