Watershed Function & Forest Management: Role of Forests in Hydrologic Resilience — (CFFC 2022 5/10)
Channel: Washington Conservation Action
Date: 2023-01-05

Watershed Function and Forest Management: The Role of Forests in Hydrologic Resilience — Session 4: Carbon Friendly Forestry Conference 2022

Speaker:
— Julia Jay is a Project Engineer at Natural Systems Design a firm focused on river restoration and watershed assessment here in the PNW.

Session Description:
Watersheds are holistic systems in which land management in the uplands can directly influence streamflow at lower elevations. Streamflow in the dry season limits the availability of water for both in-stream uses, i.e. for fish health, and out-of-stream uses in the summer months. Forests occupy an important role in the water balance of many watersheds, and how they are managed can influence their impact on water availability. Understanding the effects of historical and current upland forest management actions on dry season streamflows is critical to developing long-term strategies for water supply, salmon recovery, and climate change adaptation. 
 
This presentation will detail the context, results of, and questions raised by a pilot research effort to quantify the effects of forest management on summer streamflow in the South Fork Nooksack River.  This collaborative effort between Natural Systems Design, Western Washington University, and Nooksack Indian Tribe included application of two state-of-the-science hydrological models to understand the direction and magnitude of influence on summer streamflow from forest management actions including cutting gaps in the snow zone, changing harvest rotation frequencies, and reducing the areal extent of timber harvest in the watershed.