A primary benefit of turfgrass or any perennial vegetation is the reduction in sediment and particulate movement, or reduced soil erosion. Precipitation and irrigation can carry soil particles (sediment) in runoff and deposit them into surface waters. Too much sediment can cloud the water, reducing the amount of sunlight that reaches aquatic plants and harming aquatic species. In addition, sediments can carry fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals that are attached to the soil particles into the water bodies, causing algal blooms and depleted oxygen. Sedimentation is controlled through BMPs that control the volume and flow rate of runoff water, keeping adequate turf density, and reducing soil transport.
