Impact
of Forest Thinning on Snowpack
Client
Information
Name- Dr. Rand Decker; Northern Arizona University;
E-mail- rd53@nau.edu
Team
Name- Snowpack Engineering
Team
Members and Info
Daniel
Hagberg
Dlh222@nau.edu
928-451-4180
Dane
Palmer
Dp252@nau.edu
480-560-7807
Problem
Description
Ponderosa pine tree canopy intercepts
snow fall effectively and, hence mature or overgrown forests with high canopy
densities, effectively limit the amount of snow that reaches the forest floor.
This reduces much of the precipitation that falls as snow from entering usable
surface runoff during the spring melt. The purpose of this project is to build
upon pre-existing data by continuing snow coursing (grid sampling snow water
equivalents), at an already specified location (approximately 9 miles south of
Flagstaff, AZ) in 4 different forest states: open meadow, recently thinned,
thinned a while ago, and un-thinned. This project will supply another winter
seasons worth of snow water equivalent (SWE) data among the different forest
densities. Using the SWE data, Snowpack Engineering will gain a better
understanding for how the four different forest densities retain snow over
time. Additionally, experimental observations will be collected that examine
the effect of wind, temperature, humidity and exposed snow surface area on the
rate of snow loss due to sublimation. The rate of snow sublimation when snow is
intercepted by the forest canopy will be compared to the rate of sublimation
when snow reaches the forest floor.
Scope
of Work
This
project has been divided up into 7 different primary tasks. These tasks combine
to provide an outline of the services that will be provided for this research
study. The tasks are as follows:
Task
1: Project Management
Task
2: Background Research
Task
3: Experimental Design
Task
4: Data Collection
Task
5: Data Analysis
Task
6: Cost Analysis
Task
7: Recommendations
Task 1: Project Management
Team
management will be important throughout this project. This will primarily consist
of utilizing time efficiently and ensuring proficient communication within the
team, as well as between the team and the client.
Task 2: Background Research
The
purpose of this task is to identify existing research that has been performed
in this field of study. The design team can use this information to educate
themselves regarding what methods have been used in the past to achieve similar
objectives. This information will help the team to design an effective
experiment without replicating mistakes that have been made by researchers in
the past.
Task 3: Experimental Design
The
design team will run two simultaneous experiments: one studying the effects of varying
forest densities on snow accumulations in each respective density, and the
other examining the rate of snow sublimation due to environmental factors.
Task 4: Data Collection
During
this task, the required data for each experiment will be gathered. The tree
density experiment will involve manually taking multiple snow depth measurements
and snow core samples along a traverse to obtain SWE values for each density.
The tree branch mimicry experiment (aka. Birdfeeder) will utilize a data logger to record the
weight of the snow and a data logging weather station to record the weather
data. Additionally the depth of snow contained by the “birdfeeder” instrument
and the ground plot will be measured until all of the snow is gone.
Task 5: Data Analysis
The
purpose of this task is to use an effective method for compiling and comparing
the data that is collected from the field experiments. This will include
deciding which types of graphics to be used to effectively display the gathered
results. Results, such as SWE values vs. forest densities, can be compared with
other similar studies performed in other regions.
Task 6: Cost Analysis
The
purpose of this task is to predict the costs associated with conducting this
environmental study. The predicted costs will pertain to the required equipment
and the labor to implement the experiment, analyze results, and produce the
design report.
Task
7: Recommendations
The
design team will provide recommendations to the client based on the findings,
or lack thereof, from this project. Recommendations will include an optimal
forest density to produce the highest water yield, how much the water yield
will increase due to the implementation of the specified forest density, as
well as how quickly a typical storm will sublimate entirely from the ponderosa
pine tree branches. Additional recommendation may pertain to forest thinning
strategies, the need for additional research, and how to modify subsequent
studies.
Final
Products
·
Western
Snow Conference Abstract
o
Snowpack
Engineering will submit a 150-300 word abstract summarizing the hydrologic
study and its findings.
·
Final
design report
o
The
final design report will provide an in depth description of the project
purpose, procedure, results, conclusions and recommendations developed from the
hydrologic study.
·
UGRAD
Conference Poster
o
The poster will display the results,
conclusions and recommendations drawn from the snow hydrology study.
o
If
selected to present the results from this project at the 2012 Western Snow
Conference, this poster will double as the snow conference presentation
deliverable.