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Hydrologic Effects of Forest Disturbance Water Yield and Regime
Hydrologic Effects of Forest Disturbance Water Yield and Regime
Hydrologic Effects of Forest Disturbance Water Yield and Regime
B
A B A After
Q (B)
Q (B) Before
Q (A)
Q (A)
Relate flow “A” to flow “B” … change as a result of treatment will
Accounts for variation in climatic conditions year to year be reflected in change to relationship after treatment
Treatment Watershed - Annual Yield (Ac. Ft.)
1200
Y = a x bX
1000
Prediced yield Treatment = a x b (yield control basin)
800
Before Treatment (cal ibration period)
1200 1200 After Treatment
Average Annual Water Yield (Ac. Ft.)
600
1000 1000
1200
800
Calibration period
400 2
r = 0.87
Fully controlled studies …
can separate harvest effects from climate effects 200
(% of watershed)
600
500
Maximum increases usually 0-2 years after cutting
Conifer Results are highly variable
Deciduous
400
Range (brush) Due to differences in climatic conditions
200
Availability of water and energy ?
How well they are synchronized in time ?
100
20 100
Reduction in cover (%)
Warm climate - little variation throughout the year Cool / dry climate - Mostly snowfall, relatively little rain
Precipitation (rain) evenly distributed throughout the year Generally cold, but can get quite hot in summer
Precipitation
Precipitation
Temperature
Temperature
J F M A M J J A S O N D
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Yield increases
Yield and snow redistribution
Yield increases greatest where ...
Water and energy are abundant and synchronized in time
Water yield increases in climates like Colorado and Alberta are
… ET is high
thought to be caused by
Reduction in ET
Wet years compared to dry years
2/3 to 3/4 of total increase in water yield
Humid areas then sub-humid or semi-arid
4
11
3
10
2
9
8
1
0
Climatic region
Q Annual Ppt
Regime
Wright et al , 1990