Cumulative silvicultural impacts on watersheds: a hydrologic and regulatory dilemma

Journal Article · Sun Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · Environ. Manage.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01867334· OSTI ID:5165382

Coats, R M; Miller, T O

Because of the nature of watersheds, the hydrologic and erosional impacts of logging and related road-building activities may move offsite, affecting areas downslope and downstream from the operation. The degree to which this occurs depends on the interaction of many variables, including soils, bedrock geology, vegetation, the timing, and size of storm events, logging technology, and operator performance. In parts of northwestern California, these variables combine to produce significant water quality degradation, with resulting damage to anadromous fish habitat. Examination of recent aerial photographs, combined with a review of public records, shows that many timber harvest operations were concentrated in a single 83 sq km watershed in the lower Klamath River Basin within the past decade. The resulting soil disturbance in this case seems likely to result in cumulative off-site water quality degradation in the lower portion of the Basin. In California, both state and federal laws require consideration of possible cumulative effects of multiple timber harvest operations. In spite of recent reforms that have given the state a larger role in regulating forest practices on private land, each timber harvest plan is still evaluated in isolation from other plans in the same watershed. A process of collaborative state-private watershed planning with increased input of geologic information offers the best long-term approach to the problem of assessing cumulative effects of multiple timber harvest operations. Such a reform could ultimately emerge from the ongoing water quality planning process under Section 208 of the amended Federal Water Pollution Control Act. (Refs. 51).

• Research Organization: John Muir Inst. of Environmental Studies Inc., Mapa, CA
• OSTI ID: 5165382
• Journal Information: Environ. Manage.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Manage.; (United States) Vol. 5:2; ISSN EMNGD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
140504* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Biomass Production & Conversion-- (-1989)
510500 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
EROSION
FEDERAL REGION IX
FORESTS
HARVESTING
MANAGEMENT
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION REGULATIONS
REGULATIONS
RESOURCE CONSERVATION
SOIL CONSERVATION
SURFACE WATERS
USA
WATER RESERVOIRS