Thinning Sierra forest may help water supply
By Edward Ortiz, Sacramento Bee
With the state entering its fourth year of drought, some conservationists are looking at thinning Sierra forests to increase the amount of water that flows into area rivers.
The Nature Conservancy issued a report Friday that argues that thinning forests on public lands can reduce wildfire risk in the Northern Sierra. The report also found that such action brings a bonus: water conservation.
Thinning dense forests may lead to a 3 percent to 6 percent increase in mean annual stream flow to some watersheds, according to the report.
The conservancy based its estimates of stream flow on gauge records across 11 watersheds from 1980 to 2000 and found that the Feather River watershed would show the greatest increased water flow due to thinning.
This not the first time tree thinning has been examined for water conservation. However, the conservancy report is one of the first to look into the effect that ecologically based forest thinning would have on water yields in the Sierra Nevada and the economic benefit that could come from it.
Sacramento area papers seem to do a much better job of covering our environment say than Los Angeles that implies we (around Sacramento and north) are as miserable as them.
Competently built roads used for thinning / sound logging should increase awesome recreation of public lands, such as mtn biking at minimum.
I’m guessing the below statement on the American River was before the King fire. “That analysis showed that the biggest economic benefit would be reaped by the Feather and American rivers.”
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/environment/article15542819.html#storylink=cpy
Before the Angora fire, Washoe Meadows state park would dry up in the summer except for Angora Creek trickling through. Now with so many fewer trees upstream, the grassy meadow area stays wet even in drought years. Dramatic difference.