A DECISION MODEL TO PREDICT SEDIMENT YIELD FROM FOREST PRACTICES1

ABSTRACT: In order to choose among “best management practices,” forest managers need to predict sediment yield to perennial streams following various forest land operations. The “universal soil loss equation” (USLE) is not directly applicable to forest operations because of the heterogenous soil surface conditions left by harvesting, site preparation, and planting. A sediment hazard index is proposed, to be based on the amount of exposed mineral soil and its proximity to streams. The model offered includes rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility and average land slope, together with the index W. A paired watershed experiment in the central Georgia Piedmont was used to estimate parameters in the model. The experimental basin (80 acres) was clearcut, drum roller chopped twice, and planted by machine. The standard error of estimate of sediment yield was computed to be about 50/lbs/ac per sampling period (four months). Use of William's erogivity index (storm flow times peak flow) reduced the standard error to 33/lbs/ac.     

A HYDROLOGIC RESPONSE MAP FOR THE STATE OF GEORGIA1

Hydrologic response, defined as the ratio annual direct runoff divided by the annual precipitation, was calculated from 178 years of record on 55 watersheds less than 200 mi² in the State of Georgia. Direct runoff was determined from Geological Survey records by a universal method of hydrograph separation. Regression analysis showed that the effect of area and the deviation of actual from normal annual precipitation can be removed from the response ratio, revealing the average capacity of watershed source areas for releasing or detaining potential flood waters. A map of Georgia reveals a four-fold range in the response ratio between major provinces, and another map of a small mountain watershed shows an eight-fold range over a distance of three miles. The response ratio is proposed as a new mapping unit and its use in watershed planning and education is discussed.     

STREAM TEMPERATURE UNDER AN INADEQUATE BUFFER STRIP IN THE SOUTHEAST PIEDMONT1

ABSTRACT: A paired watershed experiment on the southeastern Piedmont to determine the effect of clearcutting loblolly pine on water quantity, quality, and timing has shown that stream water temperatures we increased as much as 20°F even though a partial buffer strip of trees and shrubs were left in place to shade the stream. Water time minimum stream temperatures were lowered as much as 10°F by the same treatment. A stream temperature model now in use did not predict such elevated temperatures. The authors suggest that forest cover reductions in areas of gentle land relief may elevate the temperature of shallow ground water moving to the stream, even with a substantial buffer strip Ln place.     

PREDICTING STORMFLOW AND PEAKFLOW FROM SMALL BASINS IN HUMID AREAS BY THE R-INDEX METHOD1

ABSTRACT: A relatively simple nonlinear equation was fitted to 468 stormflows larger than 0.05 area inches on 11 forested basins from New Hampshire to South Carolina, providing a predictive method for use on forest and wildlands in humid regions. Stormflow in area inches (Q?) was: where R is the mean value of Q/P for all P larger than one inch, P is storm rainfall in inches, and I is the initial flow rate in ft³/sec/mi². S.E. was 0.3 inch of stormflow. Peakflow was similarly estimated, S.E. 26 ft³/sec/mi². The R-index method is proposed as a practical tool in forest and wildland management. Similar to the SCS runoff curve number method, the R-index method requires no prior assumptions about infiltration capacities of forest lands, but calls for the mapping of all first-order streams for the average storage capacity index R, i.e., the mean hydrologic response of the source areas. Tested against the runoff curve method on four independent basins, predictions by the R-index method were considerably more accurate when field information normally available to planners and managers was used in both methods.     

Irrigation-Dependent Wetlands Versus Instream Flow Enhancement: Economics of Water Transfers from Agriculture to Wildlife Uses

Irrigated agriculture throughout western North America faces increasing pressure to transfer water to nonagricultural uses, including instream flows for fish and wildlife management. In an important case, increased instream flows are needed in Nebraskas Platte River for recovery of threatened and endangered fish and wildlife species. Irrigated agriculture in the Laramie Basin of southeast Wyoming is a potential water source for the effort to enhance instream flow. However, flood irrigation of hayfields in the Laramie Basin has created many wetlands, both ephemeral and permanent, over the last century. Attempting to increase Platte River instream flows by purchasing water rights or improving irrigation efficiency in the Laramie Basin would transform irrigated agriculture, causing a substantial fraction of the Laramie Basins wetlands to be lost. A creative solution is needed to prevent the sacrifice of one ecosystem on behalf of another. A rotating short-term water-leasing program is proposed. The program allows Laramie Basin producers to contribute to instream flows while continuing to support local wetlands. Permanent wetland desiccation is prevented and regional environmental water needs are met without impairing local ecological resources. Budget analysis is used to provide an initial cost estimate for acquiring water from agriculture through the short-term leasing program. The proposed approach is more expensive than traditional programs but allows contribution to instream flows without major wetland loss. Short-term leasing is a more efficient approach if benefits from wetlands exceed the difference in cost between the short-term lease program and programs that do not conserve wetlands.     

EFFECT OF SURFACE MINING ON STORM FLOW AND PEAK FLOW FROM SIX SMALL BASINS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY1

ABSTRACT: Hydrologic records from six small Eastern Kentucky watersheds were analyzed to determine the effect of surface mining on storm flows and peak flows. Average storm flow volumes were not changed by surface mining, whereas average peak flows were increased 36 percent. Peak flow increases were only in the summer. Smaller peak flows are doubled; moderate ones are increased by about a third; peak flows around 100 csm seem to be largely unaffected; and the larger peak flows may have been reduced by surface mining. The maximum annual storm flows, usually in winter or spring, appeared slightly reduced. No time trend in either storm flows or peak flows could be detected in five years of postmining record. Surface mining is not a serious floodwater discharge problem.