State-of-the-art timber harvest in an Arizona mixed conifer forest has minimal effect on overland flow and erosion

Abstract

When the Thomas Creek, Arizona, USA, watershed was logged for the first time, the latest state-of-the-art harvesting was applied. Trees were cut in patches and by group selection, and logs skidded by crawler tractor. Although overland flow and sediment delivery, measured on small sub-drainages of the watershed, were inconsequential, sediment deliveries from severely disturbed areas and undisturbed forest floor were significantly different (41 and 6 kg ha^?1 year^?1, respectively). The highest erosion rates (128 kg ha^?1 year^?1) were created by monitoring activities which entailed the use of over-snow vehicles and trail bikes. Nearly instantaneous rises in the hydrograph at the start of storms were caused by pipe flows. Significant increases of flow volumes and peak flows after timber harvest increased magnitudes of channel adjustment processes (erosion) that had existed already before logging. This development was judged positively, because it suggests more rapid attainment of a new dynamic equilibrium. The study demonstrated that mixed conifer forests can be harvested without detrimental effects on the watershed if state-of-the-art techniques are used.