Pacific Southwest Research Station

Publications and Products

General Technical Report

Title: Research and cumulative watershed effects

Author: Reid, L. M.

Date: 1993

Source: Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-141. Berkeley, Calif.: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station. 118 p

Station ID: GTR-PSW-141

Description: The mandate for land managers to address cumulative watershed effects (CWEs) requires that planners evaluate the potential impacts of their activities on multiple beneficial uses within the context of other coexisting activities in a watershed. Types of CWEs vary with the types of land-use activities and their modes of interaction, but published studies illustrate both descriptive and predictive evaluations of many of these types. Successful evaluations have generally used geomorphological and ecological approaches based on the understanding of the processes involved. In contrast, most generalized "cookbook" analysis procedures are shown to be unable to assess accumulations of impacts through time, usually cannot evaluate the range of activities and uses that are necessary, and are rarely validated. A general approach to evaluation is proposed, and the types of information available for assessments are reviewed.

Key Words: watershed, cumulative impact, land-use planning, water quality

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Citation

Reid, L. M.  1993.  Research and cumulative watershed effects  Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-141. Berkeley, Calif.: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station. 118 p.