Gullies may form. Mud from eroded areas can build up on your driveway or sidewalk or in other places. When surface runoff carries eroded soil into a local stream, the sediment can damage water quality, clog reservoirs, and increase the chance of downstream flooding. The best defense against erosion is to control runoff and to protect the soil with grasses, shrubs, and other adapted plants. The soil survey indicates the suitability of each mapped soil for lawn and landscaping plants.
Erosion can be severe on construction sites where the soil is bulldozed and cleared of vegetation.
Mulch, sediment traps, and a temporary cover of fast growing grasses help to control erosion on construction sites. Natural Resources Conservation Service personnel can provide information on these and other measures for controlling erosion on homesites. A site erosion control plan or conservation plan is required by many Arizona communities before construction is authorized. Soil surveys provide the information needed to prepare an effective conservation plan based on the soil limitations and hazards in the developing area. Soil maps and information can help you plan measures to reduce erosion and sedimentation incident to development and adapt lots and streets to the natural terrain and soil conditions.