Effects of Forest Management on Stream Flow

From Salish Sea Wiki


Wiki Rules
  • Wiki text does not reflect the policy or opinion of any agency or organization
  • Please adhere to our social contract
  • Complain here, and be nice.


Link to List of Workgroups Link to List of Topics Link to List of Places

Link to List of Efforts Link to List of Products Link to List of Documents Link to List of Graphics Link to List of Websites

Link to Headwater Sites Link to Lowland Watershed Sites Link to Floodplain Sites Link to Delta Sites Link to Embayment Sites Link to Beach Sites Link to Rocky Headland Sites

Modern forestry result in rapid clearcutting and plantation planting result in significant changes to Summer stream flows stream flow and related Water qualitywater quality parameters.

Notes

  • File:Dickerson-Lange 2017 nooksack watershed management watershed function.pdf-describes modelling describing effects of forest practices on stream flow.
  • Oliver Grah using VELMA and other modelling techniques suggests that old growth may be responsible for a 25% increase in low summer flow, and similarly creating gap cuts in a continuous canopy results in more snow storage and also a 25% increase in low summer flow.
    • Manke Lumber Co. v. Dept of Ecology provided landmark case.
    • Legislation is needed to protect water savings earned through changes in forest practices.
    • Nooksack Tribe invovled in three landmark cases since 2009.
    • Stewart Mountain Community Forest project developing in the South Fork Nooksack Watershed
    • Forest transpiration rate changes significantly after 80 years in age.
  • Does WDNR's adaptive management of the Washington Forest Practices Act relate to these efforts?
  • Alexander Harris (WWU), Acme, WA MA - Restoring the Nooksack Watershed Through Community Forestry.
    • Website https://www.sfnooksack.com contains resources.
    • 60 years of data from paired watersheds show current forest practices reduces summer streamflow by 50% (Segura et al 2020, Perry & Jones 2017).
    • Proposes development of Community Forests at scale to address stream flow issues.