Evaluating Watershed Management Alternatives

On the Beaver Creek Pilot Project multiple use evaluations are being made of watershed management treatments designed to increase water yield. So far there have been modest gains in cattle forage following cabling Utah juniper and felling alligator juniper, but these are offset by complete loss of wood production. Water and sediment yields are unchanged, and wildlife effects are uncertain. There were substantial gains in water production and forage for cattle and wildlife following clearcutting ponderosa pine, but in exchange there were large losses in terms of wood, aesthetics, and sedimentation. A more refined pine treatment, where one-third of a watershed was cleared in 60-ft strips, has been completed for 1 yr. There are indications of increased water, herbage, and wildlife yields form this treatment. Losses in other values have been less than with clearcutting.