Terraces
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Iowa State University Extension and Outreach helps carry Iowa State’s land-grant mission beyond campus, to be the university that best serves the citizens of Iowa. With Iowa State University, we embrace the land-grant philosophy of:
- access to high-quality education
- research applied to the needs of Iowa, the nation, and world
- extending knowledge to strengthen Iowa’s economy and citizens’ quality of life
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What are terraces?
A terrace is an earthen embankment constructed across a field slope, typically following the contour, and can be designed to temporarily store runoff or convey runoff to waterways. Terraces break up the slope length of the field into multiple shorter slope sections, slowing the flow rate of runoff, reducing sheet and rill erosion and preventing the formation of ephemeral gullies. As terraces temporarily store and slowly infiltrate or discharge runoff, they conserve soil moisture, reduce streamflow by 5%, allow sediment to settle out, and reduce phosphorus loads by 77%. Terraces improve the ability to farm slopes and are designed based on equipment needs. Additionally, terrace vegetation can provide cover for wildlife. Terraces should be used in conjunction with other soil conservation practices on the landscape to prevent sedimentation.