Urbanization has been going on in Middle Tennessee. Middle Tennessee State University has responded to enrollment increases by constructing more parking lots. A large drainage basin was excavated on the East side of campus. It collects runoff water from impervious surfaces on campus. The problem is tha small areas on the sides of the basins are eroding. The students formulated a field and laboratory protocols to help explain why one area on a bank has failed to vegetate. The students estimated sheet and rill erosion losses from the non grassy area on a bank. Students compared soil texture and pH of eroding and non eroding areas. Students are initially overwhelmed about making field observation.