@article {Wilcox153, author = {Bradford P. Wilcox and Mark S. Seyfried and Keith R. Cooley and Clayton L. Hanson}, title = {Runoff characteristics of sagebrush rangelands: Modeling implications}, volume = {46}, number = {2}, pages = {153--158}, year = {1991}, publisher = {Soil and Water Conservation Society}, abstract = {Runoff characteristics of sagebrush rangeland are described and related to runoff prediction by SWRRB (Simulator for Water Resources in Rural Basins). Precipitation-runoff relationships on five sagebrush watersheds located along a climatic gradient in southwestern Idaho were established using long-term records. Runoff from the two higher elevation watersheds was snowmelt-generated. With decreasing elevation, soil frost was important in runoff generation. Average annual runoff for the five watersheds ranged from 1 mm to 500 mm. The correlation between annual precipitation and annual runoff decreased with aridity of the watershed. SWRRB successfully simulated annual runoff from the highest elevation watershed where (a) runoff made up a high percentage (50\%) of the water budget, (b) frozen soil runoff was insignificant, and (c) there was a strong correlation between annual runoff and precipitation. Runoff predictions were poor for the lower elevation watersheds where (a) runoff was a small part (1-7\%) of the water budget, (b) frozen soil runoff was very important, and (c) there was a poor correlation between annual runoff and precipitation. For sagebrush rangeland in the Great Basin, little confidence can be placed in runoff predicted from models like SWRRB that are based on curve number hydrology if runoff accounts for a small part (\<10\%) of the water budget and/or soil frost plays a prominent role in runoff generation.}, issn = {0022-4561}, URL = {https://www.jswconline.org/content/46/2/153}, eprint = {https://www.jswconline.org/content/46/2/153.full.pdf}, journal = {Journal of Soil and Water Conservation} }