WATER-REPELLENT soils are characterized by two undesirable physical properties: low water infiltration rate, and high runoff. Such soils have been reported in many parts of the world under various conditions, however, one of California's real practical problems involves soil-water repellency occurring on burned water-sheds. A high percentage of the many acres (primarily in southern California) burned over by wildfires every year includes soils which repel water. The combination of removing protective vegetation, and inducing water repellency causes an extreme erosion hazard.