Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Runoff And Sediment Losses From Annual And Unusual Storm Events From The Alto Experimental Watersheds, Texas: 23 Years After Silvicultural Treatments, Matthew W. Mcbroom, R Scott Beasley, Mingteh Chang, Brian Gowin, George G. Ice

Faculty Publications

Evaluating the potential impacts of intensive silvicultural practices on water quality is critical for establishing the long-term sustainability of contemporary forest management practices. From 1979 to 1985, a study involving nine small (~2.5 ha) forested watersheds was conducted near Alto, Texas in the upper western Gulf-Coastal Plain to evaluate the impacts then-current silvicultural practices on water quality. In the years following the study, silvicultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) including Streamside Management Zones (SMZs) and other erosion control practices evolved and questions arose about the applicability of earlier results to current practices. In 1999, these same watersheds were reinstrumented to evaluate …