Erodibility of selected soils and estimates of sediment yields in the San Juan Basin, New Mexico

Water-Resources Investigations Report 81-44
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Abstract

Onsite rainfall-simulation experiments were conducted to derive field-erodibility indexes for rangeland soils and soils disturbed by mining in coal fields of northwestern New Mexico. Mean indexes on rangeland soils range from 0 grams (of detached soil) on dune soil to 121 grams on wash-transport zones. Mean field-erodibility-index values of soils disturbed by mining range from 16 to 32 grams; they can be extrapolted to nearby coal fields where future mining is expected. Because field-erodibility-index data allow differentiation of erodibilities across a variable landscape, these indexes were used to adjust values of K, the erodibility factor of the Universal Soil Loss Equation. Estimates of soil loss and sediment yield were then calculated for a small basin following mining. (USGS)

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Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Erodibility of selected soils and estimates of sediment yields in the San Juan Basin, New Mexico
Series title Water-Resources Investigations Report
Series number 81-44
DOI 10.3133/wri8144
Year Published 1981
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Description v, 33 p.
Country United States
State New Mexico
Other Geospatial San Juan Basin
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