Forest Watershed Management Course Objective: Understand the impact of forest management activities on water yield and quality. Become familiar with best management practices (BMP’s), the specific BMP programs of several states, and the role of foresters in BMP implementation and watershed management.
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Forest Watershed Management
Course Objective:
Understand the impact of forest management activities on water yield and quality. Become familiar with best management practices (BMP’s), the specific BMP programs of several states, and the role of foresters in BMP implementation and watershed management.
Grading
• Grades are based on:
• Four quizzes - 30%
• Final examination - 30%
• Project - 30%
• Class participation - 10%
Research Paper
• Due Date: December 8, 2000• Length: 1,200 words• Topic:You may write about anything related to the course
or watershed management in general. I suggest selecting a topic of particular interst to you. Prof. Hoover is available to discuss possible topics.
• Format: This is to be a research paper. This means all factual statements must be based on published research. Any conclusions should be based on the evidence available in the literature, not mere opinion.
• Number of citations: Provide a minimum of six citations for sources of information included in your paper.
What Is A Watershed? Also referred to as a “catchment”
• Topographically delineated area drained by a stream system– No specific scale implied
• Total land area above a designated point on a stream or river that drains past that point
• For planning and management purposes it’s a– Physical-biologic unit
– Socioeconomic-political unit
Why Study Forest Watershed Management?
• Historically focus was forest hydrology– Hydrological effects of
vegetation and land management practices on water quantity and quality, erosion, and sedimentation at specific sites
• Hydrology – science of water concerned with the origin, circulation, distribution, and properties of the waters of the earth.
Sources of Soil Erosion –“It’s All Relative Folks”
• Construction sites• Cropland• Forest roads• Forest land
12T/A/Yr
Soil Erosion on Forest Land Piedmont Region of Southeastern U.S.
= 0.4 tons/acre/year
= 0.04 tons/acre/year
(con
v ers
ion
fac t
o r: k
g /h a
x 0
.892
183
= lb
/ac r
e )
Source: John D. Hewlett. 1982. Principles of Forest Hydrology, Univ. Ga. Press, p. 150
Forest Activities & Soil Erosion(in order of contribution to erosion)
• Roads and skid trails• Channel encroachment• Site preparation• Harvesting activities• Fire prevention and suppression• Recreation activities• Flatwoods drainage• Wildlife management activities
Source: John D. Hewlett. 1982. Principles of Forest Hydrology, Univ. Ga. Press, p. 149