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Effects of Wood Products Harvest on Forest Soil and Water Relations¹

ABSTRACT

The effects of silvicultural treatments on streamflow have been evaluated for 20 years on a 34.7-ha forested catchment on the Fernow Experimental Forest, near Parsons, in north-central West Virginia. Selection harvest of 13, 8, and 6% of the basal area in 1958, 1963, and 1968, respectively, had negligible effect on any measured property of water. In 1969–1970, 31.7 ha were harvested by clearcutting, leaving a 3.0-ha protective strip of lightly cut forest extending about 20 m along both sides of the stream channel. This treatment had no effect on stormflow or stream temperature, but water yield increased 253 mm (38%) during the first year after cutting. Concentrations of sediment, nitrate, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium in streamflow increased slightly. These effects on water quality were held to low levels by the protective strip and prudent management of logging roads. Subsequent cutting of the protective strip and clearing the stream channel in 1972 increased water yield 40 mm (9%) and raised stream temperature as much as 7.8°C. Luxuriant regrowth over the entire watershed reduced all effects on water within 2 years after each treatment, and no effect from any treatment was measurable after 1977.

Key Words: Appalachian Mountains • clearcutting • erosion • selection harvest • water quality

¹ Contribution from the USDA For. Serv. Timber and Watershed Lab., Parsons, WV 26287, a research unit of the Northeast. For. Exp. Stn., Broomall, PA 19008.

² Forest Hydrologist, Timber and Watershed Lab., Parsons, WV 26287.

Received for publication March 28, 1979.