Long-term patterns in soil moisture and revegetation after a clearcut of a Douglas-fir forest in Oregon

The Short-Term Effects of Experimental Forestry Treatments on Site Conditions in an Oak–Hornbeam Forest

“…This change in the water balance is usually rapid; initially, soil moisture increases after the applied treatments, but drops to pre-harvest levels within a short period of time, following the reestablishment of vegetation. This time-span is approximately four-five years in the thinned stands and clear-cuts [100,101]. A similar, but even faster return to the pre-harvest level of SWC can be predicted for the gaps as well [102], because of the development of the natural regeneration, the increased root extraction, and improved interception by the enhanced lateral growth of the surrounding trees [81,82].…”

Hydrologic Response to Conifer Removal from an Encroached Mountain Meadow

“…Many studies have addressed the effects of tree removal on stream discharge, water yield and soil water content (Keppeler and Ziemer, 1990;Adams et al, 1991;Surfleet, et al, 2013;Bigelow and North, 2012). The majority of surveyed research indicates that vegetation removal has a quantifiable effect on the hydrology of a watershed, during at least a short period between removal and re-vegetation.…”

An investigation of Douglas-fir leave-tree mortality in the sub-boreal spruce zone: A temporal assessment of water relations under pre and postharvest conditions.

“…In Lorraine, France, a reduction in evapotranspiration of 29 percent was observed after a forest was clearcut (IUFRO, 2002 (Adams, et al 1991). Martin et al (2000) observed an increase in water yield of >150 mm for the first year after whole-tree harvesting, as a result of reduced transpiration and interception.…”

“…Soil moisture levels during 1960-1980 were compared for two areas within a 101 ha watershed in the Oregon Cascade Range (Adams et al 1991). In winter 1962-1963, the old-growth Douglas-fir forest in one area was clearcut.…”

“…The deficits, which were presumably caused by a rapid increase in plant cover after the light slash burn, persisted in the upper 30 cm of soil throughout the rest of the study. The observed fluctuations in soil moisture in the treated area are extensive enough to influence forest regeneration and watershed hydrology (Adams et al 1991). …”