Erosion in the Palouse - Steep III (Solutions To Environmental and ...

8Effects of erosionThe millions of tons of topsoil thaterode from cropland each yearrepresent not only the loss of anirreplaceable resource but also amajor source of silt and waterpollution. Silt smothers crops inbottomland areas, and it fills streamchannels, waterways, and drainageditches, increasing flood problems.In late winter and spring,Palouse Falls is brown withsediment. From there thesuspended sediment is carrieddownstream, where it fills reservoirsof hydroelectric plants, destroysfish habitat, ruins recreation areas,and pollutes other waters, makingthem unfit for many uses.Annual erosion on cropland inthe Palouse Basin is now estimatedto be more than 17 million tons.Unless farming systems change,the rates are expected to increase.The Palouse study shows, however,that the problems of erosion,sedimentation, and waterpollution can be greatly reduced.Islands of silt depositedin the mouth of thePalouse River.Pioneer relic andwheat coveredwith sediment.