Upper Feather River Watershed

Forests and Water in the Sierra Nevada: Sierra Nevada Watershed Ecosystem Enhancement Project

In this white paper on the Sierra Nevada Watershed Ecosystem Enhancement Project (SWEEP), we make the case that upstream management of Sierra Nevada forests can significantly increase the value of downstream water resources by shifting water towards higher value uses and optimizing the timing of runoff. The focus of this paper is on the west-side mixed-conifer forests at elevations of about 1500-3600 m (5000-12,000 ft), which are highly productive owing to the availability of sufficient water, predominance of above-freezing temperatures and presence of other conditions necessary for growth.

In this paper we review the forest hydrology literature relevant to management of conifer forests in the Sierra snow zone, as that management affects the timing and amount of snowmelt runoff. In order to understand the conceptual and practical challenges, we summarize the key elements of forest energy budget, with specific reference to the Sierra Nevada, and describe several relevant case studies.

2015-08-21

Sierra Nevada Research Institute

Sierra Nevada Research Institute, University of California, Merced, 5200 N. Lake Road, Merced, CA 95343

Forestry, Water supply, Watershed Management

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