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Streamflow changes after clear‐cut logging of a pine beetle‐infested watershed in southern British Columbia, Canada
Author(s) -
Cheng J. D.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/wr025i003p00449
Subject(s) - streamflow , watershed , hydrology (agriculture) , environmental science , logging , geology , drainage basin , geography , forestry , cartography , geotechnical engineering , machine learning , computer science
The paired watershed technique was used to assess the streamflow changes of Camp Creek in interior British Columbia after clear‐cut logging occurred over 30% of its 33.9 km 2 watershed. Existing hydrometric data for Camp Creek and those of an adjacent control, Greata Creek, were analyzed for both the 1971–1976 prelogging and 1978–1983 postlogging periods. Postlogging Camp Creek streamflow changes are characterized by increases in annual and monthly water yields and annual peak flows, as well as earlier annual peak flow and half flow volume occurrence dates. The direction and magnitude of these postlogging streamflow increases are clear and consistent. The results are in good agreement with the findings of most previous studies conducted on watersheds which generally have been smaller than 2.5 km 2 . This study provides strong evidence that changes in streamflow from a large forested watershed can be significant if a sizeable portion of its drainage area is clear‐cut. Possible causes for the streamflow changes are discussed.