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Increases in Streamflow after Converting Chaparral to Grass
Author(s) -
Hibbert Alden R.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/wr007i001p00071
Subject(s) - chaparral , precipitation , streamflow , environmental science , hydrology (agriculture) , yield (engineering) , meteorology , geography , drainage basin , geology , ecology , materials science , cartography , geotechnical engineering , metallurgy , biology
Water yield has increased substantially on two small chaparral watersheds in central Arizona following brush control and conversion to grass. Winter precipitation is the major source of water yield. Summer rains begin in July and normally account for about one‐fourth of the annual precipitation but generally have little effect on streamflow. When annual precipitation is less than 16 inches, increase in water yield resulting from treatment is likely to be less than 2 inches. However, the efficiency of the conversion for producing extra water improves with rainfall, at least up to 34 inches. At this amount of annual precipitation, the increase in flow may reach 12 inches or more, depending on seasonal distribution of the rain.