Timber harvesting and the hydrologic response of Redwood Creek, California
Mahacek-King VL and Shelton ML. 1987. Timber harvesting and the hydrologic response of Redwood Creek, California. Physical Geography. 8(3):241-256
This paper reports an investigation of effects on Redwood Creek and its resources from logging upstream of Redwood National Park, California. Data derived from a model show monthly water balances for each of three subbasins (Prairie Creek, a fog-zone in the lower part of the Redwood Creek basin, and an upper fog-free zone). Comparing measured with modeled runoff provides an indication of the reliability of the model; results show good correlation, particularly for the wetter months. Long-term stream gaging records provide data for determining effects of timber removal, and significant changes appear after 1958. The author points out that the changes emphasize the more extreme times in the basin, with increased runoff during wet months/years, and decreased amounts in dry times. The last paragraph also notes some of the resource problems associated with these effects. Includes tables of precipitation and runoff, flood data for 1955-1956 (calibration period), and an assessment of the watershed model (water years 1954-1957).
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Mahacek-King, Virginia; Shelton, M
- Units
- REDW
- Keywords
- Aquatic Sciences, Impacts, Logging, Modeling, Physical Sciences, Prairie Creek bibliography, Redwood Creek Basin Redwood National Park CA, Runoff, Watersheds