Runoff sediment particle sizes associated with soil erosion in the Lake Tahoe Basin,USA

Runoff sediment from disturbed soils in the Lake Tahoe Basin has resulted in light scattering, accumulation of nutrients, and subsequent loss in lake clarity. Little quantified information about erosion rates and runoff particle‐size distributions (PSDs) exists for determining stream and lake loading associated with land management. Building on previous studies using rainfall simulation (RS) techniques for quantifying infiltration, runoff, and erosion rates, we determine the dependence and significance of runoff sediment PSDs and sediment yield (SY, or erodibility) on slope and compare these relationships between erosion control treatments (e.g., mulch covers, compost, or woodchip incorporation, plantings) with bare and undisturbed, or ‘native’ forest soils. We used simulated rainfall rates of 60–100 mm h⁻¹ applied over replicated 0·64 m² plots. Measured parameters included time to runoff (s), infiltration and runoff rates (mm h⁻¹), SY (g mm⁻¹ runoff), and average sediment concentration (SC, g L⁻¹) as well as PSDs in runoff samples. In terms of significant relationships, granitic soils had larger particle sizes than volcanic soils in bulk soil and runoff samples. Consequently, runoff rates, SCs, and SYs were greater from bare volcanic as compared to that from bare granitic soils at similar slopes. Generally, runoff rates increased with increasing slope on bare soils, while infiltration rates decreased. Similarly, SY increased with slope for both soil types, though SYs from volcanic soils are three to four times larger than that from granitic soils. As SY increased, smaller particle sizes are observed in runoff for all soil conditions and particle sizes decreased with increasing slope. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.