Outerbasin, Annulus and Playa Basin Infiltration Studies

Abstract

Infiltration within a playa lake basin and its surrounding outerbasin area determines playa usage. One playa was the site of four infiltration experiments with infiltrometers ranging in size from 5- to 350-inch diameter. First-minute infiltration rates (182, 116, 10.6 and 2.1 inches per hour) were dependent on infiltrometer diameter and experimental method utilized. In two experiments, outerbasin and annulus infiltration were evaluated in addition to playa basin infiltration. For these experiments, playa basin infiltration rates significantly exceeded those of their outerbasin counterparts. The implications are that environmental pollution can occur if the playas are not properly managed.