Managing a Ponderosa pine forest to increase water yield

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Abstract
A forest ecosystem, managed for social goals of water, wood production, wildlife, scenic values, and sediment control was applied to the West Fork watershed, Castle Creek, after a 10‐year calibration period. Water yields have improved significantly following this timber harvest and improvement cut. During the posttreatment period an increase of 1.4 inches of water was measured during a year of high runoff when 8.77 inches was yielded from the control watershed. In contrast, during years of low runoff when the water yield averaged 0.5 inch from the control watershed, the increase averaged more than 0.4 inch. Streamflow is intermittent. Winter precipitation has been the major source of water yields. Summer rains during June through September have accounted for nearly 46% of the annual precipitation but less than 10% of the streamflow. No measurable quantities of sediment have been trapped in the pond above the measuring weir.

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