Introduction

How Does Vegetation Protect Water?

Plants and plant litter protect the soil from rainfall impact.

The unprotected soil is exposed to erosional forces. The impacts of rain drops detach soil particles and the water begins to runoff downhill, carrying sediment into ditches and ultimately into stream courses.	When soil is protected by vegetation, the plants and the litter created by the plants absorb the energy of the rain drops. So instead of the water flowing downhill, it is absorbed into the soil through channels created by roots and soil organisms.