Rainfall was simulated on plots for two years in a riparian study that examined runoff in relation to vegetation height. Three vegetation height treatments were evaluated; heavy clipping, moderately clipped, and an unclipped treatment. There were no differences in time to runoff initiation for either dry or wet rainfall simulation runs that could be attributed to differences in vegetation height treatments in either riparian plant community. It usually required longer for runoff to be initiated in the sedge community compared to the grass community. There were lower equilibrium runoff percentages from dry runs in the sedge community compared with the grass community. These differences were less during wet runs. The organic layer on the soil surface exhibited signs of water repellency that reduced the water infiltration rate during the initial stages of a rainfall simulation. These results indicate that runoff and infiltration processes in the surface organic horizon of riparian zones may not respond in the classical manner. This characteristic has important implications if criteria developed in areas with less organic matter on the soil surface are used to manage overland flow in the riparian zone.
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