Erosion:
The gradual destruction of something by natural forces (such as water, wind, or ice). This definition encompasses a whole array of issues which all can be devastating in certain circumstances.
Soil is naturally removed by the action of water or wind: such “background“ or “geological” soil erosion has been occurring for some 450 million years, since the first land plants formed the first soil. Even before this, natural process moved loose rock, or regolith, off the Earth’s surface.
In general, background erosion removes soil at roughly the same rate as soil is formed, But “accelerated” soil erosion – loss of soil at a much faster rate than it is formed – is a far more recent problem. It is usually the result of mankind’s unwise actions, such as overgrazing or unsuitable cultivation practices, or unwise landscaping may be caused by construction. These leave the land unprotected and vulnerable. Then, during times of erosive rainfall or windstorms, soil may be detached, transported and deposited.
Accelerated soil erosion by water or wind may affect both agricultural areas and the natural environment, and is one of the most widespread of today’s environmental problems. It has impacts which are both on-site (at the place where the soil is detached) and off-site (wherever the eroded soil ends up).
Soil erosion is just one form of soil degradation.
Other kinds of soil degradation include salinization, nutrient loss, and compaction.
For this earthcache we will focus on erosion caused by water. Soil erosion by water is the result of rain detaching and transporting vulnerable soil, either directly by means of rainsplash or indirectly by rill or gully erosion.
Rainsplash:
Rain may move soil directly this in known as “rainsplash erosion” or just splash erosion. Splash is only effective if the rain falls with sufficient intensity. If it does, then as the raindrops hit bare soil, their kinetic energy is able to detach and move soil particles at a short distance.
Because rainsplash requires high rainfall intensities, it is most effective under convective rainstorms in the world’s equatorial regions. Rainsplash is relatively ineffective where rain fall with a low intensity.
Rill and gully Erosion:
Rainfall may also move soil indirectly, by means of runoff in rills (small channels) or gullies (larger channels, too big to be removed by tillage). That fraction of the rainfall which does not infiltrate the soil will flow downhill under the action of gravity; it is then known as runoff.
Runoff may occur for two reasons:
1. Rain arrives too quickly for it to infiltrate. This runoff which results is known as infiltration excess runoff or Hortonian runoff
2. Run off may occur is the soil has already absorbed all the water it can hold. This runoff is known as saturation excess runoff.
As erosional channels increase in size, processes such as gravitational collapse of channel walls and heads increase in importance. Runoff and sediment from the erosion channels may be moved into ditches, streams and rivers, and so transported well away from the point of origin.
There are ways to prevent soil erosion, the four most common ways are:
1. Vegetation – the simplest and most natural way to prevent erosion control is through planting vegetation.
2. Geotextiles – using geotextiles is an effective method by itself at it stabilizes the soil when used in conjunction with growing vegetation it is even more effective.
3. Mulch/fertilizer – applying a layer of mulch to the soil top allows the soil to slowly soak up water, protects against rain impact and resorts PH levels.
4. Retaining walls – can be built around the area of erosion to prevent water runoff, which leads to further erosion. If used with other methods this could be very effective.
As you stand on this spot and look west you can see the evidence of part of the Miami-Erie canal. A major mode of transportation in the state. A project that was started in 1825 and was completed in 1845 with a cost of just $8,062,680.07. A total of 300 miles of canal starting at Lake Erie in Toledo and joining the Ohio river in Cincinnati. When the canal was the main mode of transportation, the canal consisted of 19 aqueducts and three guard locks and 103 canal locks.
This magnificent way of life was ended in 1913 due to the Historic Flood that caused major damage to the canal and the increase use of the Railroads. Today only a small portion of the tow path and canals remain today.
We were told that this cemetery and the Spring Grove Cemetery had an off shoot of the main canal to bring the large monuments made from granite and marble to the cemeteries. Most of these large monuments were originated in Italy and shipped to the cemeteries via the canal.
Here you stand and look down in the valley you can see signs of the canal and an area called Dietze Basin which was the holding bank #2, which has been filled in. Now that area is home of various wildlife including, geckos, deer and coyotes.
Now because of what some think was caused by the building of the canal you can see various stages of erosion along the hillside. One can argue it was due to natural conditions and they may be right. While you are looking around you will also see one way that the Cemetery is trying to stabilized the hillside.
The requirements of this earthcache is to:
1. Briefly describe what you see in the valley before you.
2. The erosion you see on the hillside in your words was it man made or caused by natural forces and briefly explain those forces.
3. Please tell us the method that the cemetery is using to stabilize the hillside and what else could be done to help.
The Cemetery Management does not want anyone down the hillside due to safety issues so please stay on top and just report your findings.
THE CEMETERY GATE HOURS ARE AS FOLLOWS: 8:30 AM TO 4:30 PM. PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL OF THESE HOURS
Thank you.