Crops planted on the edge of streams can create many problems with soil stability. With heavy farm machinery for planting and harvesting and heavy rainfall, increased soil compaction and bank erosion will result over time and the soil will be pushed into the stream thereby increasing sediment load and decreasing the area of the bank. Planting close to a stream edge should be avoided; area around the stream should be maintained with adequate trees and vegetation along the bank (See best management practices).
