Erosion is the natural process by which soil, rock, and sediment are worn away and transported by water, wind, ice, or gravity. While erosion occurs naturally, human activities can dramatically accelerate it: construction that removes vegetation, agricultural practices that leave soil exposed, shoreline development that disrupts natural processes, and stormwater systems that concentrate water flows. Erosion concerns municipalities in several ways: streambank erosion threatens infrastructure and property, shoreline erosion requires coastal protection, construction site erosion causes sedimentation in waterways, and slope erosion can trigger landslides. Municipal responses include erosion control bylaws for construction sites, naturalized stormwater management, shoreline protection programs, and slope stability requirements. Climate change is intensifying erosion through more extreme precipitation events and changing water levels in lakes and rivers.