Terrace: An earthen embankment that follows the contour of a hillside, breaking a long slope into shorter segments and intercepting the flow of water.
How it Works
Terraces serve as small dams on a hillside, intercepting runoff water and guiding it to a safe outlet. Some terraces are designed to collect water and temporarily store it until it can filter into the ground or be released through a stable outlet. Other terraces are designed as a channel to slow runoff and carry it to a stable outlet such as a grass waterway. Terraces can greatly reduce erosion on steep slopes, and the permanent grass on front or back slopes serves as nesting habitat.
Planning
Terraces are expensive to construct. They may be practical where rotations or residue management are insufficient for erosion control.
Terraces are designed to control runoff from a 10-year, 24-hour storm.
Terraces are best suited to fields with a uniform, moderate slope.
Other soil conservation practices may need to be used with terraces to prevent sedimentation of the channels.
Cropland widths between terraces are designed to match planting equipment width.
Maintenance
Remove accumulated sediment from channels and around pipe intakes.
Repair sections of the terrace embankment or channels that have eroded or have settled excessively; reseed and fertilize to maintain good vegetation.
Control burrowing animals, weeds, brush and trees.
Do not drive on or over terraces.
Avoid farming close to intakes, and repair or replace damaged intakes.
