What can farmers do to prevent run off?

Terracing, contouring and leveling of tilled areas are centuries-old techniques for conservation of soil and water. Modern equipment allows much more precise leveling over large distances. Keyline design is a more advanced contouring technique which incorporates roads, fences, silt barriers and irrigation channels into a comprehensive landscape plan.

Other techniques include the planting of cover crops and the use of erosion barriers on disturbed slopes.