Erosion Control in the Lehigh Valley

Erosion is patient. Every storm takes a little more — a channel gets an inch deeper, a slope creeps a little farther downhill, another layer of topsoil ends up in the ditch. By the time it’s obvious, you’re losing real ground: exposed roots, gullies you can turn an ankle in, sediment across the driveway after every rain.

Sullivan Excavating and Landscaping stops erosion at the source for homeowners across Lehigh and Northampton Counties. We don’t just patch the damage — we change how water moves across the slope so the damage stops happening.

Call 570-856-3408 for an estimate, or use the form below.

Warning Signs of an Erosion Problem

• Gullies or channels cutting deeper with each storm
• Tree and shrub roots becoming exposed on slopes
• Sediment, mulch, or stone washing onto the driveway, patio, or lawn
• Bare patches on slopes where grass can no longer hold
• Soil building up at the bottom of a hill — that soil came from somewhere

How We Stop It

• Regrading — reshaping slopes and redirecting the water that’s doing the cutting; erosion is a water problem before it’s a soil problem
• Swales and diversions — intercepting runoff above the problem area and carrying it safely around
• Stone armoring (rip-rap) — lining channels and outlets with stone where water flow can’t be eliminated, so it flows without cutting
• Slope rebuilding and stabilization — restoring lost grade and preparing the surface to hold vegetation again
• Seeding and matting — establishing dense grass with erosion-control matting on slopes; living roots are the best long-term erosion control there is

Most erosion projects combine two or three of these. A typical fix: intercept the runoff up-slope with a swale, rebuild and regrade the damaged area, then establish new grass with matting to lock it in — see our Lawn Installation page for how we build lawns that hold. If the water source itself is the bigger issue — roof runoff, a failing culvert, water off a neighboring property — that’s drainage repair, and we routinely handle both in one project.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can’t I just fill the gully back in?

You can — and the next few storms will dig it right back out, because the water that cut it is still coming. Filling the damage without redirecting the water is the erosion version of dumping new stone in a pothole. Fix the water first, then the ground repair lasts.

How much does erosion control cost?

It depends on the slope, the amount of water involved, and how much rebuilding the damaged area needs. Catching it early is always cheaper — a swale and seeding this year beats rebuilding a hillside in three. We’ll walk the slope with you and give you a detailed estimate.

When is the best time for erosion work?

Late summer and early fall are ideal — the ground is workable and new grass has time to establish before winter. But active erosion is worth addressing whenever you spot it; each storm makes the repair bigger.

Serving the Lehigh Valley

We provide erosion control for homeowners throughout Lehigh and Northampton Counties, including New Tripoli, Germansville, Slatington, Walnutport, Fogelsville, Macungie, Emmaus, Allentown, Whitehall, Northampton, and Bethlehem.