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Abstract
Quaking aspen dominates several million acres on mountainous watersheds in the West. The sites occupied receive enough precipitation to yield water to lower elevations. Most aspen areas receive 16 inches (40 cm) or more precipitation annually; many receive more than 39 inches (100 cm) (see the CLIMATES chapter), well in excess of on-site loss from evapotranspiration. The distribution of aspen in the West coincides well with areas that have deep winter snowpacks and that produce runoff (fig. 1) (see the DISTRIBUTION and CLIMATES chapters). The recharge of soil with snowmelt water during April and May is especially important to aspen and associated vegetation types (see the EFFECTS OF WATER AND TEMPERATURE chapter). Summer rains augment this stored water supply.
Parent Publication
Citation
DeByle, Norbert V. 1985. Water and watershed. In: DeByle, Norbert V.; Winokur, Robert P., editors. Aspen: Ecology and management in the western United States. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report RM-119. Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, Colo. p. 153-160
