[from the text] Prescribed burning is used on rangelands to: (1) reduce fuel load (2) improve range condition, (3) increase forage, (4) improve wildlife habitat and, (5) increase localized water yield. Fire affects many facets of the natural ecosystem. Watershed response to burning depends on vegetation type (Wright 1974), fire intensity, topography and soils (Rice 1973), season of burning (McMurphy and Anderson 1965), and probably most importantly, climate conditions following the burn. Burning can increase both water and sediment yields on pinyon/juniper dominated rangelands (Roundy et al. 1978) and on chaparral dominated rangelands (Hibbert et al. 1981). Other studies indicate no increase in runoff or sediment from burning mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) or whitebrush (Aloyisa lycoides) rangelands and post oak (Quercus stellata) savannahs in Texas (Garza and Blackburn 1985, Knight et al. 1983). Researchers have evaluated the hydrologic effect of mechanical and chemical treatments of sagebrush dominated rangelands (Blackburn and Skau 1974, Gifford 1982, Lusby 1979). However, the hydrologic and erosion responses of sagebrush burning have not been evaluated.