Infiltration and Erosion Studies on Pinyon-Juniper Conversion Sites in Southern Utah

Abstract

Infiltration and sediment data from small-plot studies (325 infiltrometer plots) utilizing high intensity simulated rainfall indicate that areas cleared of pinyon-juniper trees and seeded to grass in southern Utah generally show no consistent decrease or increase in sediment yields or infiltration rates at a given point. Of 14 sites studied, four indicated decreased infiltration rates and two indicated increased infiltration rates during one or more time intervals at specific points on the treated areas; one site had significantly less sediment yield and two sites had significantly higher sediment yields from points on the treated areas. These results nearly parallel those obtained during similar studies of 14 pinyon-juniper sites in central Utah.