Conversion of Hardwood‐Covered Watersheds to White Pine Reduces Water Yield

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Abstract
Mixed mature hardwoods were cleared from two Southern Appalachian experimental watersheds, and the areas were planted with eastern white pine in 1956–1957. Once the pine crowns began to close, streamflow steadily declined at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per year. By 1967, water yield was 3.7 inches less from a 10‐year‐old pine stand on a south‐facing watershed than expected water yield from the original hardwood forest. Most of the water yield reduction occurred during the dormant season and was attributed mainly to greater interception loss from white pine than from hardwoods. Because interception differences increase as white pine matures, an even greater reduction in streamflow is expected.