DESCRIPTION OF ISSUE
WHERE/WHEN APPLICABLE

DESCRIPTION OF ISSUE:
Soil erosion is caused primarily by rainwater that washes away soil. The eroded soil can then accumulate in waterways and pollute, clog, and/or silt up streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes. When topsoil is lost, important plant nutrients are lost and the diversity and abundance of plants and animals in the soil declines. In urban areas, the risk of harmful soil erosion is greatest where land is disturbed by construction. Some developers practice sediment control methods in order to trap loosened soil and filter it out of the water while others do not attempt to mediate their impact on the land. Soil erosion can also be problematic in sloping areas where soil is exposed due to heavy foot traffic or car traffic.

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WHERE/ WHEN APPLICABLE:
Soil erosion issues are significant in the following residential and commercial areas in the Heart of the City:
East campus of the Boston State Hospital site:
Beginning in the fall of 2001, the east campus of the Boston State Hospital site was being cleared and the slope of the land made more moderate. One year later, in the fall of 2002, no decision had been made as to how the site would be redeveloped. In the meanwhile, the soil and debris on the 792,000 square foot parcel are languishing with little protective vegetation. The site is adjacent to the Canterbury Brook to the southeast. Eroded soil from the site could have a deleterious impact on the brook.

Sloping development sites:
Erosion is a problem at steeply sloping development sites such as the one at the corner of Sigourney Street and Glen Road in Jamaica Plain. Efforts to hinder soil erosion on development sites such as this one are particularly important.

Soil erosion issues are significant in the following park and open spaces in the Heart of the City:
Peters Hill:
On Peters Hill in the Arnold Arboretum there is an informal trail that heads directly to the top of the hill. This trail mars the view of the hill and increases soil erosion.

Schoolmaster Hill in Franklin Park:
In the past on Schoolmaster Hill in Franklin Park, kids on dirt bikes carved deep gullies into the slope of the hill, which subsequently became heavily eroded.

Along Circuit Drive:
In the early 1980s, before Circuit Drive was lined with slabs of concrete and stone, cars ran rampant over the hills, valleys, woodlands, and trails of the park. This caused heavy erosion, soil compaction, and tree damage. Much of this abuse was curtailed when concrete and stone slabs were built.

Cross-country trails in Franklin Park
Heavy use of cross-country trails by runners in the fall causes the trails to become badly eroded.

Edges of Jamaica Pond:
Many edges of Jamaica Pond are unvegetated and eroded because people use them heavily and destroy much of the vegetation. Increased erosion could result in some siltation of the pond and a decline in water quality.

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