Transcript The Platte River Risks Associated with Forestry Management for Water Yield Tim Morse, Andrew Carter, Garrett Bergey, and Erin Affronti ENSC 202 Professor: Breck Bowden 5/11/07

The Platte River
Risks Associated with Forestry
Management for Water Yield
Tim Morse, Andrew Carter, Garrett Bergey, and Erin Affronti
ENSC 202
Professor: Breck Bowden
5/11/07
Overview of the Platte River
• Background
• Importance and Conflict
• Proposed source of water and associated
risks
• Water Use
• Endangered Species and Habitat
• Forest Management for Water Yield
• Sustainable Forestry
Where is the Platte River?
Image retrieved from http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/mapcenter/map.aspx edited by Garrett Bergey
Importance of the Platte River
• Serves the people of Wyoming
and Nebraska and Front Range
region of Colorado
• Invaluable water source for
irrigation
• Home to many species of
wildlife including several
threatened or endangered
species
• Part of the North American
Central Flyway Zone
http://www.kandicrops.org/images/buttons/corn_field.jpg
http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/cranecam/
Reason for Conflict
• The Platte has been
complete
appropriated
• Therefore finding
answers to additional
water sources is
becoming an alarming
problem
www.platteriver.org
Assessment of Proposed Source of
Water
• Pressure is being placed
upon forest managers to
use timber harvest to
increase water yield
• Ecological risks
• The goal of our project is
to assess whether or not
these practices have the
potential to be used to
mitigate the issue of
water scarcity on the
Platte River
http://www.wy.nrcs.usda.gov/news/Forest-1.jpg
Water Usage
• Traditionally water from the
Platte River basin was used
for irrigation
– It contains the United States
third largest irrigation system
– In Colorado irrigation supports a
2.2 billion dollar a year
production agricultural economy
– The value of crop production in
Nebraska was over 5.4 Billion
dollars in 2005
http://www.kandicrops.org/images/buttons/corn_field.jpg
http://www.riverside.com/projects/marketing_flyers/SPDSS_Spatial_Information_Systems.asp
Water Usage Cont.
• The population of the Front Range of
Colorado is rapidly growing
– The Population of the South Platte Basin has
increased by 34 percent since 1990 and is
expected to continue growing
– Coloradans typically use more water than most
American’s
This growth is causing water that at one time was
used for agriculture to be used for municipal and
industrial purposes
Growing Population
http://rockyweb.cr.usgs.gov/cues/COcuesHome.html
Growth that has occurred in the population of the front
range of Colorado from 1937 to 1997
Whooping Cranes
Approximately 188 remaining in the wild
Roost in grassy or sandy areas, such as
wetlands or agricultural areas
http://www.fws.gov/northflorida/WhoopingCrane
Majority of population visits Platte River Basin
annually
Overhunting and development of critical habitat
are largest causes for decreasing population
Improper forest management can alter:
- Required food
- Acceptable Habitat
http://platteriver.unk.edu/
Piping Plover
Approximately 1370 left in the wild (USFWS 2001)
Nest on cleared sand or gravel beaches or sand
bars near stream networks.
Platte River Basin is largely
within range of habitat
http://www.pabirds.org/images/PhotoGallery
Improper forest management
can alter:
- Available Food Sources
- Acceptable Habitat
- Predation
http://www.conservationsupportnetwork.org/images
http://www.fws.gov/plover/
Pallid Sturgeon
Native to Missouri and Mississippi River drainage
Prefers strong current, sandy bottom, and turbid
waters
http://www.r6.fws.gov/missouririver/mediapacket/pallid.jpg
Improper forest management can alter:
- Acceptable habitat
- Available food sources
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/wildlife/nddanger/species/scapalbu.htm
Forest Management for Water Yield
Two models of the North Platte River water yield show
water availability has been declining steadily for decades
• Mean water yield changes; results based on 145 catchment studies
• Treatment is based on clear-cut practices
• Conifer forests offer the largest increase in yield upon harvest
Table 2. Potential increases in flow on the North Platte River Basin resulting from timber harvest.
• NFS timber management plan for the North Platte River Basin
• 120-year management plan of small clear-cuts
• Annual increase of 37,000 acre-feet of water by 2015
• Annual increase of 50,000 to 55,000 acre-feet of water if rotations used
Figure 2. Seasonal mean daily flow for Fool Creek before (1940-1955) and after harvest (1956-1971).
• Forest disturbances in the snow zone result in reduced canopy-intercept
evaporative losses of snow in the winter months.
• Reduced snow loss result in increased snow accumulation, and increased water
yield upon spring snow melt.
• Snow accumulation is the primary input to increased spring peak flows and
maximum daily mean flows.
• Small partial cuts determined to be the best practice for increased water yield
• 5 H by 1 H = best at maximizing snow capture and minimizing evaporation
• larger than 5 H = less efficient at capturing snow due to increased wind scour
• widths of 14 H = no gain in snow capture
• Wider than 14 H = net loss in snow capture due to wind scour
Forestry Revenue
• Sustainable forestry revenue is an
important factor that must be considered
when managing forests for water yield in
the Platte River
– Small cut plots for snow accumulation should
be used
– Clear-cuts should be minimized
– Long-term rotations are essential
Recommendations
• More research should be conducted
• Forest managers should focus on small
cut plots to increase snow accumulation
• Clearcuts should be avoided due to the
negative ecological impacts
• Intensive water conservation should be
made a priority
Any Questions?