Question

Which features help reduce the amount of runoff that occurs in an area?

hard soil
steep slopes
paved surfaces
increased vegetation

Answer 1

In the context of reducing runoff in an area, the feature that is most effective is **increased vegetation**. Here's how each feature impacts runoff:

- **Hard soil**: Hard, compacted soil can limit water infiltration and increase runoff.
- **Steep slopes**: Steeper slopes can lead to increased runoff because water runs off more quickly down the slope.
- **Paved surfaces**: Paved surfaces (like roads and parking lots) prevent water from infiltrating the ground, significantly increasing runoff.
- **Increased vegetation**: Vegetation helps to absorb water, reduces soil erosion, and promotes infiltration, thereby reducing the amount of runoff.

Therefore, **increased vegetation** is the feature that helps most effectively reduce runoff.