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<br />loss of summer <br />water tables. <br />valley bottoms <br />situation. <br />This paper collates and evaluates information relating to streamflow <br />increases after events in small valley bottoms. Relationships between <br />streamflow and valley-bottom conditions are discussed. New research and <br />mangement approaches which might lead to "win-win" solutions for both live- <br />stock and wildlife, are suggested. <br /> <br />streamflow (Winegar, pers. conun. 1982), and <br />The result has been localized reductions in <br />for both wildlife and livestock; definitely <br /> <br />also in lowered <br />the value of <br /> <br />a "lose-lose" <br /> <br />INFORMATION REVIEW <br /> <br />Reported summer streamflow increases deal with streams of orders one <br />through four. Increased summer flow in ephemeral or intermittent stream <br />channels may result in reductions in the time a stream stays dry, or in devel- <br />opment of perennial flow. Increased summer flow does not necessarily imply <br />increase in annual water yield. Through improved storage, reductions in <br />yield during high flow and increases in yield during low flow may both occur, <br />and result only in a more uniform annual flow regimen. <br />Three types of modification along small, western streams have led to <br />summer flow increase; small dam construction, suppression of woody stream- <br />side vegetation, and the removal of livestock from streamsides. <br /> <br />Dams <br /> <br />Conversion to perennial flow has been reported as a result of check <br />dam construction in four watershed improvement projects; one in New Mexico <br />(Jester and McKirdy 1966), one in Oregon (Anon. 1979), one in Texas (Brown <br />1963), and one in Colorado (Heede 1977). The best-documented case was in <br />Colorado in the Alkali Creek drainage. The drainage was fenced and cattle <br />excluded in 1958. In 1963, check dams were installed in ephemeral gully <br />networks for erosion control and disturbed areas were seeded. In 1967, <br />livestock were reintroduced at a low stocking rate. In 1970, the rehabil- <br />itated gullies unexpectedly developed perennial flow (Heede 1967). Evi- <br />dence of prior beaver activity in the drainage was noted at the time of con- <br />structionf and since. 1977 beaver have reoccupied the drainage (Heede, pers. <br />conun. 1983). Precipitation remained normal during the term of the study. <br />Increases in grass cover and new sediment deposits in the gullies <br />(increasing water storage within the channels) were believed to be respon- <br />sible for change to perennial flow. willows and rushes had become firmly <br />established by 1977. <br />Rigorous scientific study on the effects of beaver dams on summer <br />streamflow in the west is lacking, but the observers agree that beaver <br />dams can reduce peak flows and enhance summer flows (Smith 1938, Rassmussen <br />1940, Tappe, 1942, Wire and Hatch 1943, Grasse and Putnam 1950, Grasse 1951, <br />Denny 1952, Yaeger and Hill 1954, Call 1960, Bates 1963, Call 1970). <br /> <br />Streamside Vegetation <br /> <br />Conversion to perennial flow has been reported upon removal of valley- <br />bottom vegetation in three western studies; one in Oregon (Winegar, pers. <br /> <br />67 <br />