Lower water temperatures within a streamside buffer strip

Lloyd W. Swift

Treesearch

Lower water temperatures within a streamside buffer strip

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Lloyd W. Swift

Year:

1973

Type:

Research Note

Station:

Southern Research Station

Source:

Research Note SE-RN-193, US Forest Service, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Asheville, NC.

Download (PDF 3.18 MB)

Download (PDF 3.18 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/60553.pdf

Abstract

The removal of streamside vegetation increases the water temperature in mountain streams. Clearcutting and farming have been found to raise temperatures beyond the tolerance level for trout (68° F). Within the sale area of a commercial clearcut in the mountains of North Carolina, a narrow buffer strip of uncut trees and shrubs was left beside a stream. Although water temperatures within the sale area may have exceeded 68° F., the stream immediately below the sale area was never warmer than 62° F.

Citation

Swift, Jr., Lloyd W. 1973. Lower water temperatures within a streamside buffer strip. Research Note SE-RN-193, US Forest Service, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Asheville, NC. 8 pp.