| Abstract: | Changes in runoff and sediment yield caused by changing sagebrush cover to grass
cover were studied at four small watersheds in western Colorado during a 9-year
period, from 1965 to 1978. Measurements of runoff and sediment yield from the four
watersheds were made for 8 years, at which time two watersheds were plowed and
seeded to beardless bluebunch wheatgrass. The same measurements were then continued for an additional 6 years.
Measurements indicated that conversion to grass caused a reduction in runoff from
summer rainstorms of about 75 percent. Runoff from spring snowmelt increased about
12 percent, and annual runoff from treated watersheds decreased about 20 percent
when compared to control watersheds. Sediment yield from the seeded watersheds was
reduced by about 80 percent; most of this reduction is related to the decrease in runoff
from summer rainstorms.
The size of barren interspaces between plants was reduced on the converted water-
sheds to about 30 percent of those on the untreated watersheds. Linear regression
analysis indicates that a reduction of 38 percent in the amount of bare soil resulting
from planting grass would result in a decrease of 73 percent in sediment concentration. |
| Genre: | USGS Numbered Series |
| ProdID: | 2181 |
| Citation Author: | Lusby, Gregg C. |
| Citation Contributing Office: | |
| Citation Datum: | |
| Citation Day: | |
| Citation Edition: | - |
| Citation Editor: | |
| Citation End Page: | |
| Citation Issue: | |
| Citation Keywords: | |
| Citation Language: | ENGLISH |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | |
| Citation LatN: | |
| Citation LatS: | |
| Citation LonE: | |
| Citation LonW: | |
| Citation Month: | |
| Citation No Pagination: | |
| Citation Number Of Pages: | |
| Citation Online Only Flag: | |
| Citation Phsyical Description: | iv, 36 p. :ill., fold. map (in pocket) ;24 cm. -- |
| Citation Projection: | |
| Citation Public Comments: | |
| Citation Publisher: | U.S. Govt. Print. Off., |
| Citation Series: | Water Supply Paper |
| Citation Series Code: | WSP |
| Citation Series Number: | 1532-J |
| Citation Search Results Text: | Effects of converting sagebrush cover to grass on the hydrology of small watersheds at Boco Mountain, Colorado; 1979; WSP; 1532-J; Lusby, Gregg C. |
| Citation Start Page: | |
| Citation Volume: | |
| Citation Year: | 1979 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Effects of converting sagebrush cover to grass on the hydrology of small watersheds at Boco Mountain, Colorado; 1979; WSP; 1532-J; Lusby, Gregg C. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.usgs.gov/wsp/1532j/report-thumb.jpg |
| URL (DOCUMENT): | http://pubs.usgs.gov/wsp/1532j/report.pdf |
| URL (PLATE): | http://pubs.usgs.gov/wsp/1532j/plate-1.pdf |
| URL (INDEX PAGE): | http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Prodesc/proddesc_24713.htm |
| Date Other: | Sat, 1 Jan 1994 00:00 -0600 |
| Publisher: | U.S. Govt. Print. Off., |
| Superseded by: |
http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/ofr78289
|
