Book excerpt: This book is used as a required text for undergraduate, graduate, and short courses in many countries. It represents the most updated material in the field of erosion/sediment control and the recovery of degraded land, being a handy tool for researchers, educators, consultants, expert witnesses, and students in general. TABLE OF CONTENTS UNIT I. INTRODUCTION TO EROSION PROCESSES Chapter 1. The phenomenon of soil erosion Chapter 2. Agents and types of erosion Chapter 3. Factors affecting soil erosion Chapter 4. Measurement of soil erosion UNIT II. HYDROLOGY AND DESIGN RUNOFF Chapter 5. Watershed hydrology Chapter 6. Precipitation and return period Chapter 7. Determining the design runoff UNIT III. METHODS AND PRACTICES Chapter 8. Geosynthetics Chapter 9. Fiber rolls Chapter 10. Silt fences Chapter 11. Hydroseeding Chapter 12. Design and implementation of turbidity curtains Chapter 13. Biotechnical and bioengineering techniques Chapter 14. Design of check dams Chapter 15. Design of stable non-vegetated channels Chapter 16. Design of stable vegetated channels Chapter 17. Design of stable channels with rip-raps Chapter 18. Design of terraces and infiltration trenches Chapter 19. Stabilization of bridges Chapter 20. Design of gabions Chapter 21. Design and implementation of groynes Chapter 22. Soil reinforcement Chapter 23. Lining of channels and riverside defenses Chapter 24. Rock slope stabilization Chapter 25. Post-fire erosion control Chapter 26. Coastal erosion control Chapter 27. Wind erosion control Chapter 28. Mine tiling remediation and phytoremediation Chapter 29. Dirt road stabilization and drainage Chapter 30. Land restoration in arid environments Chapter 31. Reservoir sediment management