Land use change and gully erosion in the Piedmont region of South Carolina.

Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, May, 2007 by Bussell, P.; Galang, M.A.; Markewitz, D.; Morris, L.A.

Land use change played an important role in the formation of gullies present today in the Piedmont of the Southeastern United States. Forested areas that were once cleared to cultivate cotton and consequently gullied are now, once again, covered with forest vegetation. Despite this forest cover, gullies are still considered to be important contributors of sediment to streams, and restoration efforts are still ongoing. However, the data available to assess the extent of gully contributions of sediment are limited. This study assessed the present day stability of these gullies relative to the land use conditions from 1939 to 1999. Based on 1939, 1954, 1970, and 1999 aerial photographs, land areas were classified into those found to be open or cultivated in 1939 that had converted to...

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