442 AMERICAN FORESTRY 



7 rain gages and 20 snow gages and the tation followed by fires, as in the Burnt 

 engineers visited these continually dur- Brook basin, results in conditions un- 

 ing the winter on snowshoes, the snow favorable to natural spring storage be- 

 being from 4 to 7 feet deep ; in the ad- cause conducive to rapid snow melt- 

 joining Burnt Brook basin (the de- ing and stream run-off. Control of 

 forested area) it established 9 rain White Mountain lands that would re- 

 gages and 18 snow gages. On both duce fires to a minimum and promote 

 streams hydrometric stations were es- normal reforstation must result in a 

 tablished and the stream flow deter- great improvement over present ten- 

 mined with a high degree of accuracy, dencies, and this improvement in forest 

 The Survey report shows that the max- cover can logically be expected to fav- 

 inium flood flow from the forested orably affect stream regulation to the 

 basin was only 67 per cent of that from extent quantitatively indicated in the 

 the deforested basin. comparison of the forested Shoal Pond 

 During the period of these storms Brook with the deforested Burnt 

 Burnt Brook (deforested) contributed Brook. 



a much greater volume of water to "While the intensive hydrometric 

 Pemigewasset River than did Shoal wor k was con fined to a few headwater 

 Pond Brook (forested). "The stream of tributaries of the Connecticut and Mer- 

 the forested basin is observed to be the r i mac r i ve rs, the basins studied were 

 steadier of the two and in proportion selected as typical for the whole White 

 to its drainage area it tends at least Mountain area, and the field examina- 

 during the spring months to promote t ions over t hj s re gi O n have shown the 

 a steady flow of water in the master tracts now under consideration for pur- 

 stream of which it is a tributary." c h as e to be similar to the basins here 

 The conclusions of Director George reported upon. Therefore, the favor- 

 Otis Smith, of the Survey, are as fol- a bl e showing of this report is of gen- 

 lows : eral application in the White Moun- 



"The comparison between two ad- tain area." 



jacent basins during critical periods is g^ an actua l demonstration and 

 presented in this preliminary statement quantitative measure of the perform- 

 as a sufficient showing for the purposes ance o f different areas, some forested 

 of the National Forest Reservation an( i others deforested, has never been 

 Commission. W r hile data covering attempted in trying to determine the 

 longer periods for both these and other e ff ect o f f ores t cover on stream flow, 

 basins in the White Mountains have Efforts to arrive at definite conclusions 

 been collected and will be available for i iave a i ways been based on a study of 

 the more complete report, the particu- long-time records of precipitation and 

 lar case of the Burnt Brook and Shoal stream discharge ; but owing to the 

 Pond Brook basins is typical for the many qua lifyi ng factors, such efforts 

 region and establishes the general con- nave s i mp l y resulted in divergent opin- 

 clusion that a direct relation exists be- j ons and " inconclusive controversies, 

 tween forest cover and stream regnla- Th e res ults of the present actual meas- 

 urements in these mimic drainage 



"The results of the Burnt Brook- basins, so accurate and refined in 

 Shoal Pond Brook studies are held to method as to approach laboratory ex- 

 show that throughout the White Moun- periments, where exact results may be 

 tains the removal of forest growth expected, leave no doubt as to the con- 

 must be expected to decrease the nat- elusion. Forest cover and the resulting 

 steadiness of dependent streams forest mat in the White Mountain 

 during the spring months at least. granite area does, to a considerable and 

 "The foregoing conclusion forms a measurable degree, steady and regulate 

 strong basis for arguing the desirabil- stream flow, and therefore must be 

 ity of painstaking methods of admin- stated as an important factor in main- 

 istration in respect to forest lands in taining the navigability of streams 

 the White Mountain region. Defores- whose headwaters lie in such areas. 



