Author(s): Julianne J. Miller; Gayle L. Dana; Todd G. Caldwell

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Abstract: A restoration project of the Gray Creek subbasin within the Truckee River watershed, located near Truckee, California, was chosen to study the effectiveness of erosion-reduction techniques. In the naturally steep and erosive Gray Creek drainage, there are problems of increased availability of sediment from road building and logging. A small plot of the watershed was restored by tilling to decompact the soil; organic matter, nutrients, and native seed were then introduced to the soil. In the near-term, mechanical site preparation alleviates compaction by loosening the soil and decreasing the soil bulk density and creating void space within the soil matrix, thus increasing the porosity and hydraulic conductivity of the near- surface soils. In the long term, the resultant increase in the soil infiltration and nutrients could improve site productivity.

DOI:

Year: 2009