Soil Survey of Dallas County, Texas Page: 47
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DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS
Diversions-Diversions consist of a channel and a
ridge constructed across the slope to intercept and
divert runoff. They require a stable outlet to dispose of
water.
Berms-Berms are diversions that consist of compact-
ed earth ridges constructed on a slight grade. They do
not have a channel and can be temporary or permanent.
Storm sewers-Storm sewers are useful for disposing
of runoff from streets and adjacent lots. However, to
prevent sediment from being deposited downstream or
from clogging the storm sewers, small sediment basins
should be constructed adjacent to the sewer inlet. Once
construction is complete and the bare areas are revege-
tated, the sediment basins can be removed.
Outlets-Outlets, generally grassed waterways, can be
established to help dispose of water from diversions,
parking lots, streets, and other areas.
Waterway stabilization structures-On soils that are so
steep that vegetation cannot be established to protect
the waterway from erosion, grade stabilization structures,
special culverts, and pipe can be used, generally in com-
bination with special vegetation.
Lined channels-On soils that are too steep or too
unstable for vegetation alone to control erosion, plastic
or fiberglass mats can be used as a temporary lining in
ditches and channels.
Sediment basins-Sediment basins are temporary
earth dams constructed across waterways to detain
runoff and trap sediment to prevent sedimentation down-
stream.
Some of the vegetative measures that can be used to
control erosion and runoff are:
Mulch-Hay, the straw from small grains, and certain
processed material can be used as mulch to protect
sloping soils and other critical areas if the grading is
completed at an unfavorable time for seeding. These
areas can be seeded later without removing the mulch.
The mulch needs to be anchored with asphalt, straight
blade disks, or netting or by some other method. Hydro-
mulching, in which seed, fertilizer, and mulch are applied
as a slurry, is a fast, all-in-one operation that requires
little labor.
Temporary cover-Rapidly growing winter plants, such
as annual ryegrass, can be used to cover bare areas
until permanent vegetation can be seeded or estab-
lished.
Permanent cover-If a lawn is not to be established,
bermudagrass, bahiagrass, weeping lovegrass, adapted
legumes, trees, shrubs, and certain vines make a good
permanent ground cover. Most grasses and legumes re-
quire weeding, fertilizing, mowing, and other mainte-
nance.
Fibrous material-Jute netting, cotton netting, paper
netting, burlap bags, and fiberglass matting have a spe-
cial use in controlling erosion and runoff. Most of these
fibrous materials are used only temporarily to hold mulch
in place or to prevent soil blowing or washing while the
seedlings are being established.In many areas, the developers do not include steps to
control runoff and erosion in their overall development
plan. In these areas, the responsibility for erosion control
is left to the individual homeowners. Some erosion-con-
trol measures that are practical for protecting small resi-
dential tracts are:
Grading-The surface of the soil should be graded so
that it is level or gently sloping. Where the surface layer
is loamy, the topsoil can be removed and stockpiled until
it can be replaced on the graded surface.
Contouring-Driveways, walks, fences, retaining walls,
and raised flower beds should be constructed on the
contour or, if that is not feasible, straight across the
slope.
Diversions-Small diversions can be built to intercept
runoff before it flows across erodible soils. They should
be protected with a permanent cover of vegetation.
Waterways-Waterways can be constructed to help
prevent gullying and to help drain ponded areas. They
need to be shaped, smoothed, and established with sod.
In places, they can be constructed as small ditches
along property lines. The waterways generally empty into
bar ditches or paved and curbed streets.
Drainage-Seep spots, waterlogged soils, and small
ponded areas generally can be drained with ditches or
tile drains. Some low areas can be filled with topsoil.
In addition to these methods of erosion control, home-
owners can make use of the vegetative measures previ-
ously mentioned. Any erosion-control method that is
used should be designed as part of an overall landscape
plan.
Potential for urban development
The soils in Dallas County are rated in table 13 for
their potential for urban development. Ratings are given
for dwellings that do not have a basement and are con-
nected to a public sewer system, streets, shallow exca-
vations for utility lines, and uncoated steel pipe. In addi-
tion to these elements of urban development, shopping
centers and small businesses also were considered in
rating the overall potential of the soils.
The soils that have the highest potential for urban
development are those on which streets and structural
foundations can be placed and not deteriorate because
of adverse soil factors. In general, these soils are easy
to excavate and cultivate, require little leveling or soil
moving, are well drained, and are not subject to flooding.
The soils that have the lowest potential are those that
are subject to flooding or are too sloping and unstable.
The factors considered in rating the potential of the
soils for each element of urban development are: the
hazard of flooding, depth to the water table, wetness,
shrink-swell potential, soil strength, soil texture, corrosi-
vity to uncoated steel, and slope. Soils that are subject
to flooding have very low potential for urban develop-
ment because of the difficulty and expense involved in
controlling floodwater. In most cases, the watershed47
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General Soil Map, Dallas County, Texas (Map)
Map displays soil types along with creeks, towns, schools, churches, power transmission lines, oil and gas pipelines, roads, and railroads. Includes legend and symbols. Scale 1:253,400
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Coffee, Daniel R. Soil Survey of Dallas County, Texas, book, 1980; Washington D.C.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth130211/m1/57/?q=tex-land: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.