Drought Induced Canopy Effects On Surface Runoff Quality.

Municipal water restrictions in combination with deficit irrigation practices and sustained drought can result in unacceptable turf quality.  Recent droughts have demonstrated that low density, dessicated lawns may becoming more commonplace and potentially more accepted across Texas landscapes.  This shift in the definition of 'acceptable' lawn quality could represent a significant alteration to the urban ecosystem.  Such changes have not be evaluated for their impact on surface hydrology or nutrient loading into surface waters.  Thus, a field study was initiated at the Texas A&M Surface Runoff Facility in College Station, TX, to measure runoff volumes and nutrient loading from St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walter) Kuntze) lawns irrigated at diminishing fractions of FAO Penman Monteith ETo.  Data from one growing season will be discussed.