Hydrologic and climatic changes in three small watersheds after timber harvest.

W.B. Fowler; J.D. Helvey; E.N. Felix

doi:10.2737/PNW-RP-379

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Hydrologic and climatic changes in three small watersheds after timber harvest.

Informally Refereed

Authors:

W.B. Fowler, J.D. Helvey, E.N. Felix

Year:

1987

Type:

Research Paper

Station:

Pacific Northwest Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2737/PNW-RP-379

Source:

Res. Pap. PNW-RP-379. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 13 p

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Download (PDF 650 KB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/9215.pdf

Abstract

No significant increases in annual water yield were shown for three small watersheds in northeastern Oregon after shelterwood cutting (30-percent canopy removal, 50-percent basal area removal) and clearcutting. Average maximum air temperature increased after harvest and average minimum air temperature decreased by up to 2.6 °C. Both maximum and minimum water temperatures decreased slightly in two streams as compared with the control stream. Wind passage and velocities increased dramatically with removal of the forest cover. Both snow depth and snowpack water content increased in clearcuttings.

Keywords

Logging effects, hydrologic analysis, climatic change, watershed management, Oregon (Blue Mountains), Blue Mountains—, Oregon

Citation

Fowler, W.B.; Helvey, J.D.; Felix, E.N. 1987. Hydrologic and climatic changes in three small watersheds after timber harvest. Res. Pap. PNW-RP-379. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 13 p