Runoff
… runoff will be used to collectively describe the precipitation that is not directly infiltrated into the groundwater system.
… is generally characterized by overland, gully and rill, swale, and channel flows.
… is that portion of a precipitation event that "quickly" reaches the stream system. The term "quickly" is used with caution as there may be great variability in response times for various flow mechanisms.
… Runoff producing events are usually thought of as those that saturate the soil column or occur during a period when the soil is already saturated. Thus infiltration is halted or limited and excess precipitation occurs. This may also occur when the intensity rate of the precipitation is greater than the infiltration capacity.