Research on snow by the Forest Service

Submitted by vlaplant on Thu, 02/21/2013 - 16:17
TitleResearch on snow by the Forest Service
Publication TypeConference Proceedings
Year of Conference1940
AuthorsConnaughton, C. A.
Conference Name8th Annual Western Interstate Snow Survey Conference
Series TitleProceedings of the 8th Annual Western Interstate Snow Survey Conference
Date PublishedJune 1940
PublisherAmerican Geophysical Union, Transactions, Part III-B:
Conference LocationSeattle, Washington
KeywordsSnow research, Watershed management
Abstract

The U.S. Forest Service research on snow started in 1910 as part of the Wagon Wheel Gap study on the effect of forest thinning on streamflow. Results of experiments conducted in forest areas of Colorado, Utah and Idaho show that forest cover retard the spring melting of snow by prolonging the runoff period up to 10 days. Current research includes the intensive study of the hydrology of 3 major watersheds in California. It is planned to modify the forest cover after completion of the study and to determine the effects of the treatment on streamflow in the Wasatch Plateau, in a portion of the Colorado River watershed, the State of Pennsylvania, and on the Smith River watershed in New Hampshire. More research is required to secure adequate watershed service and management.Discussion by J. Cecil Alter, J.E. Church and R.T. Gisborne.
URLsites/westernsnowconference.org/PDFs/1940aConnaughton.pdf