Effect of Prescribed Burning on Sediment, Water Yield, and Water Quality from Dozed Juniper Lands in Central Texas

Abstract

Prescribed burning was applied to six miniwatersheds that were each paired with an unburned watershed. Erosion losses, runoff, and water quality were unaffected on level areas, but adverse effects lasted for 9 to 15 months on moderate slopes and for 15 to 30 or more months on steep slopes. Rates of erosion losses stabilized within 18 months on all slopes when vegetative cover reached 63 to 68%.