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This figure could be increased under the region's studies if a plan that maximized water yield improvement were adopted. Even the maximization plan, though, uses just the timber harvest process for increasing water yield. No figures were given for the total effect, but based on figures for one National Forest, it appears that this option would only increase the water yield by about one-fourth to one-third over the 148,000 acre-foot figure. These levels of water yields are much below what had been estimated as being feasible or reasonable in the 1979 USFS report by Aldon Hibbert. The Task Committee discussed these low water yields. Silvey said that it would be very difficult to get a significantly larger water yield improvement just through managing the harvest able timber. He stated that the largest increase would probably be developed through snow fencing, coupled with cloud seeding. He explained some of the very large increases in water yield that are possible through snow fencing, where snow that would otherwise sublimate into the atmosphere is kept on the ground. Also, Silvey explained that the plans did not consider type conversion at all, where tracts are cleared of existing brush or non-commercial timber and replaced with other speciea. This alternattve appears to be capable of developing a substantial increase of water yield. Silvey was asked if it would be reasonable for the USFS to amend its regional plan and forest plans to include such options as snow fencing and type conversions, after comm.ents are received on their plans. Silvey urged that such comments be submitted, and stated that it may be possible for the USFS to amend their plans to include such actions therein. Silvey also said that it would be very important to comment on the individual forest plans, as well as the regional plan, as the USFS gives a great deal of autonomy to the individual forest managers in the development of their forest plans. USFS - Intermountain Region- Water Yield Studies Pete Stender, Hydrologist for the Intermountain Region, had developed highlights of his region's draft plan in a seven-page hand- out that was made available to the Task Committee. He orally :reviewed the highlights of what the handout contained, which material was abstracted from the regional draft plan. Some of the points that Stender emphasized were that the Inter- mountain Region's forests within the Colorado River Basin do not have a very great potential for timber harvest, and the basis for their water yield improvement plans are the same as that in the Rocky Mountain Region. Thus, while he had not yet developed total water yield improve- ment figures for the region based on the draft plan, the potential for sustained yield improvement is probably only about one-fOurth to one- third the amount of that of the Rocky Mountain Region. B-28