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→Erosion potential
==Overview==
==Overview==
[[File:Screenshot 2025-07-30 105033.png|500px|thumb|right|TRCA Reg area 2024<ref>https://trca.ca/regulation-mapping-update/</ref>]]
[[File:Erosiondiagram.png|500px|thumb|right|Runoff moves dislodged soil from upland areas to lower elevations (TRCA, 2020).<ref name = "TRCA2020">TRCA. 2020. Ravine and Bluff Brochure. https://trcaca.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/app/uploads/2020/04/27105442/Ravine-and-Bluff-Brochure.pdf</ref>]]
Erosion is the movement of earthen materials from one area to another due to forces such as wind, water, and ice. This process occurs slowly under natural conditions. However, erosion is often accelerated by anthropogenic activities, such as [[Erosion and Sediment Control|construction]], agriculture, and deforestation (AAFC, 2025)<ref>Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 2025. Soil erosion. https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/environment/resource-management/indicators/soil-erosion.</ref>. This accelerated rate of erosion can compromise the effectiveness of LID systems and impact watershed health.
Erosion is the movement of earthen materials from one area to another due to forces such as wind, water, and ice. This process occurs slowly under natural conditions. However, erosion is often accelerated by anthropogenic activities, such as [[Erosion and Sediment Control|construction]], agriculture, and deforestation (AAFC, 2025)<ref>Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 2025. Soil erosion. https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/environment/resource-management/indicators/soil-erosion.</ref>. This accelerated rate of erosion can compromise the effectiveness of LID systems and impact watershed health.
Managing the risk associated with erosion is one of the primary roles of Conservation Authorities under the Conservation Authorities Act (TRCA, 2025)<ref>Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. 2025. Erosion Risk Management. https://trca.ca/conservation/erosion-risk-management/</ref>. This Act allows Conservation Authorities to establish and undertake initiatives on private and public land to help achieve its objectives and can include :
Managing the risk associated with erosion is one of the primary roles of Conservation Authorities under the Conservation Authorities Act (TRCA, 2025b)<ref>Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. 2025. Erosion Risk Management. https://trca.ca/conservation/erosion-risk-management/</ref>. This Act allows Conservation Authorities to establish and undertake initiatives on private and public land to help achieve its objectives and can include :
*monitoring of areas affected by flooding, erosion, and or slope instability;
*monitoring of areas affected by flooding, erosion, and or slope instability;
*study and investigation of the watershed; and
*study and investigation of the watershed; and
*remediation of erosion and/or slope stability hazards
*remediation of erosion and/or slope stability hazards
One way conservation authorities manage the risk of erosion is by recommending the use of [[Erosion and Sediment Control|Erosion and Sediment Controls (ESC)]] during construction projects. ESC may be required for projects within a Regulated Area.
One way Conservation Authorities manage the risk of erosion is by recommending the use of [[Erosion and Sediment Control|Erosion and Sediment Controls (ESC)]] during construction projects. An ESC plan may be required for projects within a Regulated Area. For more information, contact [https://trca.ca/conservation/erosion-risk-management/ TRCA's Erosion Risk Management department].
[[File:TRCARegMap2024.png|500px|thumb|left|TRCA Regulated Area 2024 (TRCA, 2025a)<ref>TRCA. 2025a. TRCA Annual Regulation Mapping Update. https://trca.ca/regulation-mapping-update/</ref>]]
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*'''Impairing air quality''', especially through wind-blown dust (Tian et al., 2021)<ref>Tian, M., Gao, J., Zhang, L., Zhang, H., Feng, C., Jia, X. 2021. Effects of dust emissions from wind erosion of soil on ambient air quality. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apr.2021.101108.</ref>.}}
*'''Impairing air quality''', especially through wind-blown dust (Tian et al., 2021)<ref>Tian, M., Gao, J., Zhang, L., Zhang, H., Feng, C., Jia, X. 2021. Effects of dust emissions from wind erosion of soil on ambient air quality. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apr.2021.101108.</ref>.}}
ESC practices are essential for minimizing the impacts of erosion during construction. While these measures help reduce sediment-laden runoff and airborne dust, it's important to recognize that they do not eliminate all suspended sediment (MECP, 2021)<ref name = "MECP2021">Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. 2022. Low Impact Development Stormwater
Management Guidance Manual. Chapter 7. https://prod-environmental-registry.s3.amazonaws.com/2022-01/Draft%20LID%20Stormwater%20Management%20Guidance%20Manual%202022.pdf</ref>. To maximize effectiveness, ESC plans should be properly designed, implemented, and maintained throughout the construction process. Visit the [[Erosion and Sediment Control|ESC wiki]] to learn more about best practices for controlling erosion and protecting downstream environments.
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==Types of erosion==
==Types of erosion==
===Erosion potential===
===Erosion potential===
[[Image:Bluestemcombined.png|500px|thumb|right|Big Bluestem (left) and Little Bluestem (right) are native ground cover ideal for erosion control and have [[Graminoids: List|demonstrated good performance]] in projects designed, installed and monitored by STEP.<ref>https://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Southern-Grow-Me-Instead-1.pdf</ref>]]
[[File:Screenshot 2025-07-30 115525.png|400px|thumb|right|Established groundcover helps to decrease erosion potential (TRCA, 2020)<ref name = "TRCA2020"></ref>.]]
{{textbox|The potential for soil erosion is influenced by several factors, including (STEP, 2019)<ref name = "STEPESC">STEP. 2019. The Erosion and Sediment Control Guide for Urban Construction. https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2020/01/ESC-Guide-for-Urban-Construction_FINAL.pdf</ref>:
*'''[[Understanding rainfall statistics|Rainfall]] characteristics''': Droplet size, intensity, frequency, duration
*'''[[Understanding rainfall statistics|Rainfall]] characteristics''': Droplet size, intensity, frequency, duration
*'''Ground cover''': Type and quality/areal density of cover}}
*'''Ground cover''': Type and quality/areal density of cover}}
{| class="wikitable" style="border-collapse:collapse;width: 650px;"
{| class="wikitable" style="border-collapse:collapse;width: 590px;"
|+ Erosion potential of soil types and ground covers<ref name ="STEPESC"></ref>
|+ Erosion potential of soil types and ground covers<ref name ="STEPESC"></ref>
! style="border:1px solid black;" | Soil Type
! style="border:1px solid black;" | Soil Type
Sandy clay<br>
Sandy clay<br>
Silty clay<br>
Silty clay<br>
Sandy clay Loam<br>
Sandy clay loam<br>
Silty clay Loam<br>
Silty clay loam<br>
Sandy loam<br>
Sandy loam<br>
Silty sand<br>
Silty sand<br>
Least<br>[[Image:Arrow.png|40px]]<br>Most
Least<br>[[Image:Arrow.png|40px]]<br>Most
|}
|}
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==Erosion and LID==
==Erosion and LID==
[[File:Stepped cells.png|550px|thumb|Stepped [[Swales|bioswales]] that incorporate strategic rock and vegetation placement can help decrease the volume and speed of runoff, providing erosion control.]]
[[File:Stepped cells.png|500px|thumb|Stepped [[Swales|bioswales]] that incorporate strategic rock and vegetation placement can help decrease the volume and speed of runoff, providing erosion control.]]
[[Image:Bluestemcombined.png|500px|thumb|right|Big Bluestem (left) and Little Bluestem (right) are native ground cover ideal for stabilizing soils and have [[Graminoids: List|demonstrated good performance]] in projects designed, installed and monitored by STEP (Grow Me Instead, 2020).<ref>Grow Me In stead. 2020. A Guide for Southern Ontario: Beautiful Non-Invasive Plants for your Garden. https://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Southern-Grow-Me-Instead-1.pdf</ref>]]
{{textbox|LID can help to minimize conditions that lead to erosion by:
{{textbox|LID can help to minimize conditions that lead to erosion by: