THE AUTHOR 



HAROLD F. HAUPT is the former leader of the Water Quality Management re- 

 search work unit of the Intermountain Station at Moscow. He holds a B.S. 

 degree in forestry and M. S. degree in range ecology, both obtained at the 

 University of Idaho. For the past 29 years, he has conducted research in 

 the fields of snowmelt hydrology, logging-road erosion, soil stabilization, 

 and water quality in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and California. 



RESEARCH SUMMARY 



Clearcutting on north- and south-facing slopes in a young mature, mid- 

 elevation stand of mixed conifers in north Idaho resulted in substantial snow 

 storage gains. The initial gain of 56 percent decreased to 37 percent after 

 34 years on the north slope following reestablishment of a new stand and 

 later thinning of the 26-year-old sapling stand. Most of the increase was 

 associated with savings from interception loss. Spring snowmelt rates also 

 decreased gradually on the north slope because of crown-cover density in- 

 creases in the new stand and subsequent expansion of shade cast by the 

 canopies. On the south slope initial gains in snow accumulation were less 

 (37 percent) because of greater winter melt and the greater evaporation/ 

 sublimation associated with south-facing clearcuts. In the 34-year study 

 period, the new stand reestablished slowly because of brush competition, 

 resulting in little if any change in snow accumulation gains or melt rates. 



