New Type of Conservation Construction

by Daniel Frieb, Soil Conservation Technician
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Great Bend, Kansas

A recently completed conservation practice in Barton County that will provide erosion control is labeled as a first and new type of conservation construction in the county. The conservation practice is a grade stabilization structure which, when installed, protects the land from eroding caused by rainfall runoff over a sudden drop in elevation.

This new practice uses large rectangular concrete blocks instead of the conventional formed and poured concrete type of structure. These concrete blocks have a dimensional measurement of 30” by 30” by 60”. The concrete blocks are also keyed so they fit together like “Lego’s”. The blocks are placed in a stair-step position allowing the water to flow down the elevation drop to a stable grade. The erosive energy of the flowing water is dissipated by the concrete blocks thus preventing soil erosion.

A common place where this practice is needed is at the bottom end of a cropland field in a drain. When this drain drops in elevation two feet or more, it usually will cut a ditch back into the cropland field. This cut back will keep getting deeper with each heavy rainfall event causing tons of soil loss each year.

f you have some unique cut backs like these in your cropland fields that need some conservation attention, visit your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office or conservation district office located at your local county USDA Service Center.

For more information about NRCS programs, visit the Kansas NRCS Web site at www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov.

This article is also available in Microsoft Word format.

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Last Modified: 09/04/2008