Question
We have a cabin in the Smokies. The  nearly vertical embakement at the right front of the cabin constantly is eroded off by rain washing a clay-like deposit down onto the pavement in front of the cabin. It can get as deep as 4-5" at times. My question is how can I build some kind of bulkhead or retaining wall to prevent this? Thanks

Answer
Hello, Ron:

Sorry, there is no special 搈ud catcher?for erosion control.  You are fighting the age-old battle of gravity and water.  You want to intercept the water BEFORE it rolls across the slope face.  If that is not possible, then the preferred solution that I have used is to use plant materials that cover and hold the mud, so you don抰 have to scrape it off of your driveway.  

General article on erosion control:
http://www.laspilitas.com/garden/howto/slope.html

If the slope is so steep, or lacks sunlight/soil required for plant materials, then you抣l have to 揂RMOR?the slope in some other fashion, either with a retaining wall, or with a 搈at?system that will slow the erosion process down.  Here are a couple of examples:

Stacked bag system:
http://www.deltalok.com/index.htm

Concrete system:
http://www.flexamat.com/fortressrock.htm

Gabions & geogrids:
http://www.archiexpo.com/prod/maccaferri/geocomposite-for-steep-slope-stabilisat...

Again, the best is to intercept and redirect the water from the top of the slope and preventing it from running down the face of the slope.

You may need to talk to a civil engineer to see it this is feasible (Area required for a diversion ditch, where it goes AFTER you抳e captured the water, local historic flows, etc.)

Hope this brief discussion helped. ~Marc