Erosion and Sediment- Why It’s a Bigger Issue Than You Think

Wind erosion in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl era. Image from Encyclopædia Britannica

Lacy Powers, Conservation Technician, BCCD
In the 1930s a devastating disaster known as the “Dust Bowl” took place in the Great Plains of the United States. This was due to poor farming practices that had historically stripped the land of topsoil and a severe drought that caused an erosion catastrophe. These issues became so bad that soil was in the air they breathed, water they drank, and hardly any was left on the ground for viable crops to grow. Thousands of acres of farmland were depleted from erosion, destroying livelihoods and adversely impacting people’s quality of life. Let’s break down the ramifications of the Dust Bowl so we can truly appreciate just how large an issue erosion and sedimentation can be to our environment and our economy.  

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The environmental impacts of the Dust Bowl highlighted the consequences of overgrazing and excessively farming land.  When cattle are left to continuously graze the same fields, forage is not allowed to recover, and the ground will become compact under the constant weight of the cattle. Think about a heavily used farm area where cattle are constantly gathered.  You will notice there is no vegetation, and the soil is either compacted down flat or it is a muddy mess. This leads to increased erosion and runoff from farmland and reduces the health of the topsoil.

When planting, farmers would remove the native grass on their farmland to replace them with cash crops such as wheat and corn. No longer were there the strong, long root systems of the native plants that would help retain soil. Instead, the constant tilling, planting, and harvesting of the cash crops left the soil exposed and vulnerable to erosion.  It was also a common thought to plow fields to a fine consistency after harvesting under the assumption that the exposed soil would allow for more absorption and retention of moisture. We now know that over-tilling an area leads to decreased pore space and less water retention which increases stormwater runoff.  What is carried with that water? The fine topsoil particles that hold all the nutrition crops need to grow. During the severe drought of the Dust Bowl this plowed material was easily transported through the wind and became overwhelming air pollution.  In some events the soil and sand would bury wagons and choke the people in the dust storm's path.

The economic hardship for the people who lived in the Great Plains was immense.  These were farmers who were promised fertile land and the ability to have financial gain.  Unfortunately, the use of poor farming and land management practices combined with the droughts that can be common for the Great Plains ended in environmental disaster.  People not only lost their livelihoods, but they were now left with unfertile soil and no resources to help them with such challenges. Many families were forced to leave their homes, jobs, and land with nowhere else to go.

In response to this tragic event President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration established the Soil Conservation Services that pushed to create programs that would address soil erosion issues and assist local farmers in proper farming practices. This allows for the teaching of sustainable farming practices such as implementing crop and cattle rotation in farm and pasture fields, cover cropping, and reducing tillage to help maintain soil health and prevent erosion. It also promotes proper land management and planning to build more resilient farms for when extreme weather events occur. This mission continues today and research into sustainability has brought us a long way from the disaster of the Dust Bowl in the 1930s.

It is important to remember just how fragile our relationship with the environment is and the ramifications if we do not care about it.  The disasters of erosion and sedimentation were brought to the forefront during the Dust Bowl but also served as the ultimate learning lesson for environmental sustainability. 
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The Bradford County Conservation District is committed to helping people manage resources wisely.  You can visit the Bradford County Conservation District at 200 Lake Rd in Wysox across from the Wysox Fire Hall. Contact us at (570) 485-3144 or visit our web page at www.bccdpa.com.