Which of the following is NOT considered an engineered erosion control strategy?

Cover crops are utilized primarily for their ability to enhance soil health, prevent erosion, and improve nutrient management, but they are not classified as an engineered erosion control strategy. Instead, cover crops work by establishing a protective plant cover that helps to stabilize soil and absorb nutrients, thus reducing erosion indirectly rather than through engineered physical structures.

In contrast, terraces, grassed waterways, and streambank protection are designed as specific structural measures to directly mitigate soil erosion. Terraces typically involve shaping the land into steps to slow water runoff, grassed waterways are designed channels that direct water flow while minimizing erosion through vegetation, and streambank protection involves techniques like riprap or vegetation to stabilize stream banks against erosion caused by water flow.

Each of these engineered strategies employs physical modifications or structures that are intentionally designed and planned to control erosion effectively, differentiating them from the more agronomic approach of cover crops.