| Abstract: | 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. |
