In article ,
writes:

The notion of clear-cutting huge tracks of forest to increase runoff for
water
containments is not only self-serving industry pandering, but delusional.

While supporters hold up one carefully chosen test where some limited
success
was realized, the practical, real world effects would be quite different.

Rather than being net depleters of moisture, trees and forests help
increase
moisture by "fixing" it in ground and surface sources. Trees use some of
the
moisture from snow in their upper stories while, aided by gravity, sun and
wind, they permit most to find its way to the surface. This surface
moisture is
then shaded from excessive evaporation by the trees, allowing it to
percolate
downward, maintaining soil moisture balance, feeding root systems, reducing
erosion, and recharging ground sources. Evapotranspiration from trees helps
maintain the water cycle and local climate.

Do you have any actual research to back this position?

What?? = Evapotranspiration maintaining the water cycle and local Climate


Generally I am of
the opinion that any ground that can grow trees should be growing trees,
but in some areas of the world trees are discouraged because of the
amount of water they use.

The article was in response to the Option of Clear-cutting tress to increase
run off for storage behind Dams!

I have talked to a farmer in South Africa who
was not allowed to plant trees in a riparian zone because of the amount
of water they would consume.

The one I saw was they were removing non-natives in Sought Africa which sucked
up water and crowded out Natives!

Surprise = Surprise:

Colorado has just banned The sale of Russian Olive Trees!



It takes about 20" of rain a year to grow a douglas fir. I'm sure the
Rocky Mountain pines are more frugal with their water, but just about
have to consume around a foot of rainfall a year.

Their concern was that the snow would not fall on to the ground and would melt
in the trees and evaporate!



What the result of logging would be on water supply is not clear to me.
I suspect it would be highly variable depending on slope and climate.

They want increased run off!



Probably the most effective way for Colorado to recover water is just to
outlaw lawn irrigation.

Well in Denver, the rat catchers are called out everytime someone plants Native
Grass which gets too high = Menawhile in the House next dorr the wood and trash
pile is ignored - That would be where the rats would be!

Saw Denver Parks trucks out watering ground with no tress but which had flowers
during the summer - this was last week and not needed - They watered heavy =
Not a good example!



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