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Effects of juniper and pinyon eradication on streamflow from Corduroy Creek basin, Arizona

1966; United States Government Publishing Office; Linguagem: Inglês

10.3133/pp491b

2330-7102

Michael R. Collings, Robert M. Myrick,

Water Quality and Resources Studies

An investigation to determine the effect of juniper and pinyon removal and of controlled burning on runoff was made on the adjacent Carrizo Creek and Corduroy Creek basins, Fort Apache Indian Reservation, Ariz.The watersheds encompass areas of 237 and 213 square miles, respectively.The study was begun in 1957 with 5 years of streamflow records already existing.Thirty-eight percent of Corduroy 'basin was modified ; Carrizo basin was left undisturbed.~here were 7 years of premodification data (1952)(1953)(1954)(1955)(1956)(1957)(1958) and 5 years of postmodification data (1959)(1960)(1961)(1962)(1963).Comparisons were made on the runoff relations from adjacent basins and precipitation-runoff relations over each 'basin for water-year periods, summer storm periods, and winter storm periods.No statistically significant difference in runoff relations could be detected ; however, a significant difference between precipitation-runoff relations was indicated for the winter storm period on both the modified basin and the control basin.A test of precipitation relations of the control versus the treated basin for the before-and after-modification periods indicated no detectable difference in precipitation between basins.A test of precipitation for the period 'before versus the period after modification over each basin showed a statistically significant change in both basins; therefore, the change in the precipitation-runoff relations for the 'before-and after-modification periods was concluded to be the effect of a climatic change.The statistically significant change in the precipitation-runoff relations for the control basin was no different than would be expected by chance than the change in the precipitation-runoff relation for the modified basin.If a change does exist because of vegetation modification, the change is masked by the variance of the data.Prior to this study the theory had been advanced that if undesirable species of vegetation were eradicated from a 'basin, such as the one studied in this investigation, runoff would be increased -and measurable and additional discrete quantities of water would be made available for appropriation.From the results of this study, however, it cannot be demonstrated that the partial clearing of Corduroy Creek basin resulted in either an increase or ~a decrease in water yield.