Persistence of soil moisture changes resulting from artificially extended snowmelt

TitlePersistence of soil moisture changes resulting from artificially extended snowmelt
Publication TypeConference Proceedings
Year of Conference1986
AuthorsMacDonald, L. H.
Conference Name54th Annual Western Snow Conference
Series TitleProceedings of the 54th Annual Western Snow Conference
Date PublishedApril 1986
PublisherWestern Snow Conference
Conference LocationPhoenix, Arizona
KeywordsArtificial Snowmelt, Cloud Seeding, Soil Moisture
Abstract

Snow redistribution due to forest harvest has been extensively studied in the Sierra Nevada, and several public utilities are conducting cloud-seeding programs. The effectiveness of such management actions in increasing summer runoff was investigated by simulating extended snowmelt on four 960 sq m plots using a gravity-flow irrigation system. Intensive groundwater and soil moisture monitoring was carried out on two of these treated plots, two adjacent control plots, and in the areas between the plots and the first-order stream. Shallow piezometers indicated a rapid response to the simulted snowmelt and a sharp decline in water levels after treatment ceased. Tensiometer and soil moisture block data indicated that soil moisture differences may persist for several weeks compared to the control plots, and that this effect may extend downslope under certain conditions. The persistence of this change in soil moisture suggests a physical basis for claiming an increase in mid- and late summer streamflow.

URLsites/westernsnowconference.org/PDFs/1986MacDonald.pdf