Practice 2: Erosion Control

Erosion control is one of the seven qualifying wildlife management practices for maintaining a Texas wildlife exemption. While it may seem like a land management activity rather than a wildlife practice, healthy soils are the foundation of productive wildlife habitat. When topsoil erodes, vegetation quality declines, water sources become silted, and the land's ability to support wildlife degrades.

What Qualifies as Erosion Control?

Erosion control for wildlife management purposes involves implementing practices that prevent soil loss, protect water quality, and maintain the structural integrity of the landscape. This is particularly important on properties with steep terrain, active creek systems, overgrazed areas, or exposed soil from construction or clearing activities.

The distinction from standard agricultural erosion control is intent — your erosion control efforts must be documented as benefiting wildlife habitat, not just protecting farmland productivity.

Erosion Control Activities for Your Annual Report

Building terraces and water bars

Constructing earthen terraces on slopes to slow water runoff and reduce sheet erosion. Water bars across roads and trails redirect runoff and prevent gully formation.

Establishing vegetative buffers

Planting or maintaining strips of dense vegetation along creeks, rivers, and drainage ways. These riparian buffers filter sediment, protect water quality, and provide critical wildlife corridors.

Reseeding bare or disturbed areas

Planting native grasses and forbs on exposed soil from construction, overgrazing, or natural erosion. Bare ground produces no wildlife food and loses topsoil rapidly during rain events.

Creek and waterway stabilization

Reinforcing eroding creek banks with rock, vegetation, or bioengineering techniques. Stable creek banks provide better aquatic habitat and protect downstream water sources.

Trail and road management

Maintaining ranch roads and trails to prevent erosion — proper drainage, gravel surfacing, water diversion structures, and seasonal closures of vulnerable routes during wet periods.

Gully repair

Filling and stabilizing active gullies with rock check dams, brush packing, or native grass establishment before they expand and consume productive habitat.

How to Document Erosion Control

Erosion control documentation should include photos of the problem area before treatment, the treatment in progress, and the results afterward. Measure the length or area treated. For vegetative buffers, document the width and species planted. Always state the wildlife benefit — for example, 'Stabilized 200 feet of creek bank to protect water quality and maintain aquatic habitat for white-tailed deer, turkey, and migratory waterfowl.'

Ecoregion Considerations

Erosion vulnerability varies significantly across Texas. Properties in the Cross Timbers and Rolling Plains ecoregions on sandy soils are particularly susceptible. Edwards Plateau properties with thin limestone soils lose productivity quickly when topsoil erodes. Gulf Prairies properties face different challenges with coastal wind erosion and storm surge impacts.

Other Wildlife Management Practices

Texas requires at least 3 of 7 wildlife management practices each year. Explore the other qualifying practices: