Streamflow Changes Associated with Forest Cutting, Species Conversions, and Natural Disturbances

Abstract

An original research objective in the establishment of Coweeta was to measure and evaluate the effects of man’s use of the forest on the quantity and timing of streamflow. Over the past 50 years at least 40 publications and numerous presentations have addressed this topic. Fifteen individual watershed-scale experiments have been conducted in the basin, involving various intensities of forest cutting and harvest and conversions of hardwood forest to white pine or grass. A description of the treatments is summarized in Chapter 1. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a synthesis of findings on (1) responses in annual and monthly streamflow quantities following cutting, species conversions, and natural disturbance; (2) changes in storm hydrograph characteristics that accompany clearcutting; and (3) the application of results to water resources planning on forested watersheds.