By Julian and Deborah Geisinger

WHY PREPARE FOR RAIN? Because PREPAREDNESS saves MONEY $$$ and TIME

– Reduce the risk of damage to your structures, property, landscapes, etc.

– Reduce the risk of possibly damaging your neighbor’s property!

– Reduce contamination of natural waterways.

– Conserve and enhance soil fertility. Retain top soil and mulch for healthier plants.

– Conserve municipal water usage. Up to 30% is used for irrigation!!

– Capture water RUN- OFF on site to benefit trees and other greenery

– Repairs usually cost a lot more!!

WHAT CAUSES EROSION? ENERGY FROM WATER RUN- OFF!!!

– Water ENERGY is determined by velocity (SPEED) and quantity (VOLUME).

– Factors determining water speed are slope angle, length, shape and roughness.

– RUN- OFF is determined by rain fall rate (inches/hour) and surface characteristics:

Like permeability, soil structure, compaction, moisture & organic content

– RUN- OFF increases over bedrock, pavement, and compacted soil.

– RUN- OFF increases if soils are hydro- phobic or if the saturation point is exceeded.

HOW CAN I REDUCE EROSION? Spread out flow to disperse ENERGY

– Reduce SPEED and/or VOLUME of water RUN- OFF if possible.

– Look up- stream and up- slope to determine the top of the source of water RUN- OFF:

Find source at highest point on your property by following existing erosion rills.

Up- slope roofs, gutters, neighboring lots and roofs, roads, drives and paved areas

– Reduce VOLUME if possible: “Water Harvesting”

Capture in holding TANKS or retention BASINS for use at a later date

Multi- phase protections needed for after holding areas are full to capacity

– Increase soil permeability so more water can percolate DOWN instead of running off:

Amend sandy, silty soils with clay, organics and mulches. Plant ground cover (30% min)

Vertical mulch areas of compacted soils near plants and trees.

– “Contour Grading”: keep more storm and rainwater RUN- OFF on site

Follow the natural contours of the land as much as possible

Reduce water SPEED by altering flow direction lateral to slope

Change slope angles, length and shape with SWALES, BERMS and BENCHES

Meander flow line side to side down the slope with soil, logs, boulders, blocks, etc.

– Connect BASINS with BERMS AND BENCHES in series to slow water speed.

Multiple layers of these may be needed depending on conditions

Allows time for water to percolate into soil and unload sediment

– Direct water flow into tree wells (level BASINS) around trees, shrubs and plants if possible

– Install BARRIERS to redirect flow around structures:

Retaining walls, blocks, netting, vegetation, sandbags and straw waddles

ALL METHODS REQUIRE MAINTENANCE AND CLEAN OUT AFTER STORMS

WHAT IF THE WEATHERMAN IS WRONG?

All the more reason to capture as much rain fall as we possibly can.

All the more reason to build tree wells (level BASINS) around as many trees as possible

Build BASINS and TREE WELLS around desired trees and shrubs.

Organic materials and Mulches help absorb water like a sponge

Topical mulches and gravel helps reduce upper soil temperatures which holds in moisture.

Topical mulch also reduces soil compaction and aids in nutrient cycling.

WHAT ABOUT THE TREES?

The forest has several methods of “self- thinning” when there is no fire.

Two years of extremely dry winters are showing in the trees now.

Stronger trees are looking pretty good as they outcompete other weaker trees

WHY ARE SO MANY COMING DOWN?

If we removed only the Pine trees inside the creek edges, water would start flowing again.

More thinning is needed for the health of the remaining stand

Choose your favorite BIG trees and clear everything at least 10 feet away from the trunk

Julian Geisinger: [email protected] , (760) 345-1588

Deborah Geisinger: [email protected] , (951) 966-1094