Effect High Intensity Storms on Soil Slippage on Mountainous Watersheds in Southern California

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Abstract
The conversion of brush areas to grassland increased soil slip erosion on mountainous watersheds in southern California during the intense winter storms of 1969. The incidence of soil slippage, site factors affecting slope stability, and amount of debris generated by slippage were investigated for sample brush and grass areas in the San Dimas Experimental Forest. Soil slippage occurred on 5.5% of the brush areas and 16.7% of the grass areas, the values for both areas being about twice those measured in 1966 for a less intense storm period. The effectiveness of linear discriminant analysis was below that of 1966. In all probability, the thresholds of several environmental factors are not linear, and the 1969 storms crossed the thresholds of several factors responsible for more widespread slippage.