WMOD00314

• Project Name: Uintah Ecology Project
• Title: Potential Ecological Impacts of Snowpack Augmentation in the Uintah Mountains, Utah
• Date: 4/20/1981
• State: UT
• Weather Modification - Doc Type: Report

M8-280 (3-78)
Bu,.&u ot Recl&lll&Uon

l. REPORT NO.

4. TITLE ANO SUBTITLE
Potential Ecological Impacts of Snowpack Augmen-
tation in the Uinta Mountains, Utah -- Final
Report of the Uinta Ecology Project

7. A UTHORISl

Kimball T. Harper et al.

9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME ANO AOORESS
Department of Botany & Range Science
Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602
Under contract to Utah Div. of Water Resource,
231 E. 400 S., Salt Lake City, UT 84111

. S ONSORING AGENCY NAME ANO AOORESS
Department of Interior
Water and Power Resources Service
Office of Atmospheric Water Resources Mngt.
Denver, CO 80225

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AL REPORT STANDAR TITLE PAGE
3. RECIPIENT'S CATAL.:)G NO.

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S. REPORT OA TE
April 20, 1981

6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION COOE

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8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION
REPORT NO.

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10. WORK UNIT NO.

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1 Watce~T~d qtb~TR~%ource
rvice 6-07-DR-20060
13. TYPE OF REPORT ANO PERIOO
COVEREO
Final Report
May 1, 1976-May 1, 1980

'b.sPON,S,ORING Il"GENCY ..coo~
1V. water Kes. ~on~r. No.
76-6892

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15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

Results of four years of observations on the effects of late-lying snow
on resources of the Uinta Mountains.

16. ABSTRACT

Results of studies on the impacts of late-lying snow on four eco-
systems (lodgepole pine and spruce-fir forests, subalpine meadow and alpine
herbland) are reported. An increase of 10% in the average snowpack is
estimated to retard the 75% snow-free date .7-1.5 days. That amount of
additional snow could not be shown to alter tree growth or reproduction
in the forests studied. A 10% increase in snowpack tended to increase
above-ground herb growth in ecosystems that normally have light snowpacks
(lodgepole forest and alpine herbland) and to decrease herb production in
zones of heavy snowpacks (spruce-fir forest and subalpine meadow). All
changes in herb layer production were small. Species that were adversely
or positively affected by late-lying snow are identified.
Baseline silver contents of soils and plant are reported. The vegeta-
tional sampling design is evaluated and recommendations for the future are
made. It is demonstrated that Landsat imagery is an economical tool for"
monitoring snowpack retreat. Streamflow and snow melt models are developed
for the Uinta Mountains.

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17. KEY WOROS ANO OOCUMENT ANALYSIS
a. DESCRIPTORS..
Alpine herbland, lodgepole pine forest, snow melt, snow and plant growth,
spruce-fir forest, streamflow prediction, subalpine meadow, silver in soils
and plants, vegetational sampling, Uinta Mountains, Utah.

b. IDENTIFIERSu

c. COSATI Field/Group COWRR:

18. OISTRIBUTION STATEMENT
Available from the National Technical Information Service. Operations
Division. Springfield. Virginia 22/61.

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19. SECURITY CLASS 21. NO. OF PAGE
(THIS REPORT)
UNCLASSIFIED
20. SECURITY CLASS 22. PRICE
(THIS PAGEl
UNCLASSIFIED

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GPO 8411-830