TIMBER HARVESTING AND THE HYDROLOGIC RESPONSE OF REDWOOD CREEK,CALIFORNIA |
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| Authors: | Virginia L Mahacek-King M L Shelton |
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| Institution: | Department of Geography , University of California , Davis, California 95616 |
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| Abstract: | Timber removal on publicand private land surrounding Redwood National Park exacerbates naturally high rates of erosion that are common to this region and alters hydrologic processes within the park boundaries. These alterations of the natural environment complicate the efforts of the National Park Service to preserve a remnant of the once extensive coastal redwood ecosystem in the park. A watershed model for Redwood Creek calibrated to pre-logging conditions is employed to define and quantify changes in the hydrologic response of the basin during the years when timber harvesting reduced significantly the acreage of redwoods. Analysis of modeled and observed runoff indicates that timber removal is related to increased runoff during wet months and wet years, but runoff is reduced during dry months and dry years. These alterations in the hydrologic system occur at the least beneficial time because they augment high flows, whereas low flows are depleted. Such changes in runoff contribute to magnified erosion and deposition problems and increased stress for the flora and fauna that reside in and along Redwood Creek. Key words: Redwood National Park, hydrology, watershed model, timber harvesting.] |
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| Keywords: | climate change 3rd and 4th century A D Germania migration dendroclimatology Völkerwanderung |
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