An improved system is provided for preventing erosion of a bluff or hillside having a face extending between a toe at a bottom thereof and a crest at a top surface thereof, a water saturated zone extending rearwardly from the face, and a failure shear plane. The bluff or hillside is subject to excess water accumulation contributing to land mass degradation. The invention is improved by at least one drain member or wicking drain positioned behind the failure shear plane and extending downwardly and forwardly only along a single radius towards the face of the bluff and through the water saturated zone between the top surface of the bluff and the face of the bluff for the purpose of controlling drainage of the excess water accumulation. The drain member or wicking drain is installed from the top surface of the bluff or hillside so as not to impair the structural integrity and cause land mass degradation of the face thereof.