Erosion on very stony forest soil during phenomenal rain in Webster County, West Virginia

Abstract

On July 15 and 16, 1979, at least 6 inches of rain fell in central West Virginia during 3 hours, a storm of return period longer than 1,000 years. More than 6 miles of logging roads were examined for evidences of soil erosion and sediment delivery to streams. Erosion was negligible on very stony soils where (a) logging roads were litter covered, (b) road grades were less than 15 percent, and (c) volumes of overland flow on logging roads had been small. Severest erosion ranged from 0.6 to 0.8 ton of soil and rock per foot of logging road. Average rate of erosion (from logging roads only) was about 5 tons per acre of loggedover land; higher rates seem possible only after greater soil exposure or in the unlikely event of harder rain. About two-thirds of the detritus from the most severely eroded road was believed to reach a nearby river and contribute to its sediment load, but only about one-third of the detritus reached the river where roads eroded less severely. Formation of an erosion pavement on most of the roads prevented greater soil loss, and it will minimize future erosion. The evidence suggests that more attention to the proper location and management of logging roads could have held erosion on very stony soils to little in excess of geologic rates.

Citation

Patric, J. H.; Kidd, W. E., Jr. 1982. Erosion on very stony forest soil during phenomenal rain in Webster County, West Virginia. Res. Pap. NE-501. Broomall, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiemnt Station. 13p.