Comparing erosion risks from forest operations to wildfire

William J. Elliot; Peter R. Robichaud

Treesearch

Comparing erosion risks from forest operations to wildfire

Informally Refereed

Authors:

William J. Elliot, Peter R. Robichaud

Year:

2001

Type:

Miscellaneous Publication

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

In: Schiess, Peter; Krogstad, Finn, eds. Proceedings of the International Mountain Logging and 11th Pacific Northwest Skyline Symposium: 2001 - a forest engineering odyssey. Seattle, WA : College of Forest Ressources, University of Washington and International Union of Forestry Research Organizations: 78-89

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Abstract

Wildfire and forest operations remove vegetation and disturb forest soils. Both of these effects can lead to an increased risk of soil erosion. Operations to reduce forest fuel loads, however, may reduce the risk of wildfire. This paper presents research and modeling results which show that under many conditions, carefully planned operations with adequate buffers, results in lower long-term erosion rates than experienced following wildfire, which is inevitable if fuel loads are not reduced. The effects of reducing fire-induced flood flows on forest stream systems, however, are unknown.

Keywords

soil erosion, forest operations, forest fires, Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP)

Citation

Elliot, William J.; Robichaud, Peter R. 2001. Comparing erosion risks from forest operations to wildfire. In: Schiess, Peter; Krogstad, Finn, eds. Proceedings of the International Mountain Logging and 11th Pacific Northwest Skyline Symposium: 2001 - a forest engineering odyssey. Seattle, WA : College of Forest Ressources, University of Washington and International Union of Forestry Research Organizations: 78-89