Water from Small Dams

Silt traps made of vegetation planted between stonesSilt traps can be made of perennialvegetation planted between stones thatare laid across the inflow channel toponds and earth dams. The silt trapsreduce the velocity of the in-flowingwater thereby giving soil particles timeto settle in and above the silt traps.After flooding, most of the accumulatedsilt should be removed and used forfertilisation of adjacent farmland.Check damsCheck dams are almost similar to silttraps, but are usually made of largestones placed across inflow channels.Perennial grasses are planted in soilpacked in between the stones for"cementing" them together.Without soil conservation, rainwater andwind will transport the top soildownstream where it silts up earth damsand riverbeds.After the top soil has gone, the oncefertile land will change to a lunarlandscape with a stony surface cut bydeep gullies, where nothing can grow.54