Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) methods have been used to evaluate the presence, extent, and spatial variability of hydrophobic soils in Southern California Watersheds. It has been shown that high frequency ground penetrating radar equipment, under certain conditions, has the ability to determine the presence, depth, and persistence of post fire hydrophobic soils. As part of this study an extensive investigation was undertaken to not only evaluate the capability of this approach but also to understand under what conditions the method can be applied successfully and what are the limitations of the approach. The investigation includes use of computer simulations and modeling, laboratory investigations in sand boxes with native soils, and multiple field trials spanning a five year time period. Of particular significance is the finding that using GPR it is possible to: locate the interface between the uppermost burnt soil layer, and soil horizons below; quantify the depth at which the hydrophobic layer forms; and quantify the spatial extent of the layer. As part of this study best practice methods for both field and lab experimentation have also been developed and are presented in the body of the thesis. Based on this study it is concluded that the use of GPR can provide a much more accurate and comprehensive method of evaluating the nature of hydrophobic layers in such environments than the current point specific manual methods. As a result the use of GPR has significantly advanced our capacity to assess the potential for increased erosion and the generation of debris flows in such environments after rainfall events.

From the Proceedings of the 1973 Meetings of the Arizona Section - American Water Resources Assn. and the Hydrology Section - Arizona Academy of Science - May 4-5, 1973, Tucson, Arizona / An infiltration- wetting agent study, using the wetting agent "WATER-IN", was conducted in the ponderosa pine forest type of east central Arizona. An application rate of 10 gallons of wetting agent per acre was used on bare mineral soil and on ponderosa pine litter. The infiltration rate was measured by a modified North Fork infiltrometer. It was found that "WATER-IN" significantly increased water runoff when applied to litter, but, when applied to bare mineral soil, "WATER-IN" caused a significant increase in water infiltration. The wetting agent did not significantly affect antecedent moisture, soil particle distribution, litter water holding capacity, or litter bulk density. It is presently hypothesized that the increase in water infiltration on treated bare mineral soil is due to a decrease in the average bulk density of the surface inch of soil. The increase in runoff when litter is treated is probably due to an interaction, either physical, chemical, or both, between the humus layer and "WATER-IN ", creating a hydrophobic condition where one did not exist before.