Helicopters Dropped 1 Million Pounds of Dead Grass, The Result Saved Lives

June 5, 2025

California is undoubtedly one of the most recognized states in the United States, thanks largely to its powerful economy—an economic force that rivals entire countries. But even as California sits at the top of the rankings for financial strength, it faces a persistent threat: erosion. This natural process eats away at the state in many different forms.

Coastal erosion constantly nibbles away at California’s famous shoreline. Inland, reckless farming practices have caused the loss of precious topsoil, stripping the land and leaving it vulnerable. And perhaps most unsettling is how erosion in the hills is practically expected. That’s because wildfires are a regular part of life in California, turning green slopes into ash and leaving the earth exposed and fragile. With nothing left to hold the soil in place, entire sections of hillsides can collapse after a storm, crushing everything in their path and sometimes even taking lives.

Surprisingly, one of the best defenses against this kind of erosion is something simple: dead vegetation. Yes, layers of dead plants can help stop the soil from washing away, but how exactly does this work?

#wonderbot