Effects of Clear-cutting and Forest Regrowth on Snowmelt Runoff in the Kamabuchi Experimental Watershed in Northern Japan

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  • Abe Toshio
    Tohoku Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute
  • Kubota Tayoko
    Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute
  • Noguchi Shoji
    Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences
  • Hosoda Ikuhiro
    Kansai Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute

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  • 釜淵森林理水試験地における皆伐とその後の植生回復が融雪流出に及ぼす影響
  • カマ エン シンリン リスイ シケンチ ニ オケル カイバツ ト ソノゴ ノ ショクセイ カイフク ガ ユウセツ リュウシュツ ニ オヨボス エイキョウ

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Abstract

<p>To elucidate the effects of clear-cutting and following reforestation on snowmelt runoff, we analyzed statistically the daily hydrological observation data from 1939 to 2005, also daily air temperature and daily snow depth in the Kamabuchi experimental watershed, where paired-catchment studies had been conducted, in northern Japan. Our analysis revealed that snowmelt runoff during the snowmelt season of the clear-cut watersheds (No. 2 and 3) tended to increase after clear-cutting and then decreased gradually. The time needed to return to the previous state was about 30 years after planting. Differences in snowmelt runoff compared with the prelogging periods tended to increase as annual snowfall and spring average air temperature increased, probably due to snow interception by the forest canopy in winter and evapotranspiration in spring, respectively. Although snowmelt runoff seasons tended to begin earlier after clear-cutting than the prelogging periods, the ending dates after cutting were almost the same or only slightly late. These results indicate that clear-cutting increases water resource availability in the spring in terms of water quantity and the duration of snowmelt runoff, but it is concerned that clear-cutting cause snowmelt-flood. Furthermore, it is necessary to carefully evaluate the results of No. 2 watershed, because the practice history was unusual.</p>

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