Water Stewardship Information Sources
| Citation | Church, M and Eaton, B. 2001. Hydrological effects of forest harvest in the Pacific Northwest. Coast Information Team, BC Ministry of Forests. Riparian Decision Tool Technical Report #3. |
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| Organization | FLNRO |
| URL | https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/tasb/slrp/citbc/b-HPG3-ChurchEaton-Jun01.pdf |
| Abstract/Description or Keywords | This report reviews experience in the coastal part of the Pacific Northwest region of North America of the effects of forest harvest upon hydrological regime and water quality, upon sediment mobilisation and delivery to stream systems, and their impacts upon hydroriparian habitat and ecosystems. For purposes of review, the “Pacific Northwest” is understood to encompass the forested Pacific slope between northern California and southern Alaska (see Church, 1998a). This forested coastal region of broadly similar marine climate is distinguished by the massive size and remarkable longevity of the principal coniferous tree species (Waring and Franklin, 1979). Climate and physiography impose a distinctive hydrological regime throughout the region. In consequence, practice and effects of forest management, including road building and forest harvest, are also in many respects regionally distinctive. These circumstances dictate that a review of land management impacts upon hydrology and sedimentation be regional in character. Knowledge of the environment and patterns of environmental disturbance within the Pacific Northwest are at least qualitatively indicative of conditions that may be expected at any particular place within the region. The report has two major sections. The first gives a review of hydrological and sediment-related effects of forestry practices in the coastal Pacific Northwest. The second makes an interpretation of hydrological and sediment-related effects and presents recommendations for management of hydrology and hydroriparian zones, based on the documented experience, that should lead to sustainable land use. These recommendations are similar to ones made in the final report of the Scientific Panel for Sustainable Forest Practices in Clayoquot Sound1 . |
| Information Type | report |
| Regional Watershed | Coast Region |
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| Project status | complete |
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