In recent years, both the state and federal governments of the United States have at last recognized erosion as a serious problem affecting the people of this land socially and economically, just as it affected the people of those kingdoms now buried in the sands of the deserts. Because of the seriousness of the problem, studies are being instituted on larger scopes than ever before and there is a greater realization of the pressing need for more adequate information about erosion, its causes, effects, prevention, and other related factors.

That intense rainstorms result in higher rates of runoff is an acknowledged fact. These rates of runoff play an important part in studies made by soil conservationists, and upon their studies will depend the same success or failure of conservation practices. Soil conservationists have already espied the need for planning projects or designs that will take care of maximum runoffs which are to be expected at definite frequencies. The United States Geological Survey has collected records and made investigations of great value to engineers of navigation and flood control projects, as well as power developments and other such works which interest students of hydrology and soil conservation. Moreover, experiment stations in practically every state are cooperating with soil conservationists and soil specialists in attacking erosion problems facing the nation. The goal of all these investigations is towards finding means by which to help Nature in keeping the land so clothes that erosion may be kept within the natural limits. Hence, work is being conducted on many various problems.

One particular problem upon which more information is needed is that runoff, its causes and effects in the Limestone Valley and Uplands Region in the State of Virginia. With the idea of making some contribution, therefore, that may help effect a solution by making available data for the above region, this problem was chosen as a subject for a Master’s thesis.