Hydrologic effects of suburban development near Palo Alto, California

Data were gathered for 7 years in 3 srrall basins ir. tr.e rcctr.i__s west of San Francisco Bay near Falo Altc, Calif., TC detect changes in the hydrologic regime caused by suburban development. One basin (Los Trances Creek tributary) remained ir. a natural stare throughout the study period while another (Sharon Creek) r-er.air.ec natural for the first 3 years, then suburban homes, offices, and a golf course were established.during the fourth year; the basin remained relatively stable for the following 3 years. The third basin (San Francisquito Creek tributary) was unchanged for the first 4 years of the study, but from then on construction activity was continuous and no stable relation existed between basin parameters and hydrologic characteristics. Stream flow in Sharon Creek changed fro epr-erera-tr perennial because of the introduction of iaported water ar.d an associated rise in the ground-water table. Runoff ir.creasec 5r> 5 or 10 percent of annual precipitation to more than 30 percer.i.