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<br />
<br />. .\("rial ,if'" of a ("It'ar-cut 1110t on Hurro .\Iounlain.
<br />
<br />'\li"l'd Coniter \V;l(l'rshl'ds
<br />
<br />. ('It-ar ('ul IHt"R un :Sorth Fork or \\'orkman erN'k.
<br />
<br />The ~tix('d Conifer Timber Typt:. i~ on thr-
<br />higher mountain slopes anrl yielcls a:-: much as
<br />12 tu 1.') inche,.; runoff annually - mon- watf~r
<br />I)('r acre than any other portion of the major
<br />watersheds. The intf'rmixt.d a.spen is a rf'sult
<br />of past fires.
<br />The Thomas and Willow Cn'ek Watersheds are
<br />located on tilE' Apache ~ati()nal Fnf{....t. :'itream
<br />g'ag'f'S flnd precipitfltion ....talion~ haw I)('t>n in-
<br />stalled. After calihration, a pn:'~cription for
<br />timber harvest will he {h-'sigllf~d to tpst tlw ('f-
<br />fed", of patch cutting on water yield. [{t'search
<br />findings from Workman Cn'ek will ht, used in
<br />the de:sign of the treatnwnt method,.;, Grazing,
<br />recrention. and wildlife resoun'('s nl,.;o will hl' in~
<br />vcntoried and c\'aluated.
<br />'nle Burro Creek \\'atershed i.... located in tlw
<br />spnlee fir typt' west of Big Lakp on tlw Apadw
<br />
<br />~ational Fon.....t. Sf'wn clear cut plot:' ranging:
<br />in size from 3 to 23 aert's were f'stahlished in
<br />19..')8. A gaging station wa.... installed to obtain
<br />watf'r im'entnry data.
<br />11le pUrpclse is to If'arn what timlwr manag:e~
<br />nwnt prohlf'ms would r{-'...lIlt if thp Forp"t Sef\'~
<br />Ice f'mbarkNllln a wide seale application of tim-
<br />her harn,,,t by dt'ar cutting and to df'moni'otrate
<br />what hap~)(-'n'" to \'t'get<ltion fo"owin~ Hlrious
<br />mL'lhods of dear l'utting.
<br />Studies are ('untinuing on tree planting, natural
<br />re~wn{>ration of trt-(-'". forage productiun, wild-
<br />life lI~e, ami fire hazard reduction.
<br />The",e ....t udies will help detemline a practical
<br />method for harwstlng the ~wlog:-: flnd pulp
<br />while nwa,..uring productive crops on this high
<br />water yielding land.
<br />
<br />SUllllllar\'
<br />
<br />These pilot water;.;hed "tucli",,, 3rt' a partnf'l:-ihip
<br />undertaking, jointly opprated by the resf'ar('h
<br />and admini:-:trati\'c brant'ht,s of the C. S. De-
<br />partment of Agriculture's Fore:-:t Service. The
<br />evaluation of the results of the te~ting is till'
<br />responsibility of re~earl'h. The planning and
<br />carrying out of thf' work on the ground ,ue the
<br />responsibilitit's of both branchel'. In addition.
<br />the Forest ~{'fvice is l'oopl'nlting with many
<br />other agencies and group" intere...ted in water
<br />manag('nwnt and produl'tion. The Arizona
<br />Water Resource,.. Committee, ,l group of private
<br />l'itizpn" representing mllnicipalitie"" ,lgriculture.
<br />indll,;trv, timht'r. livel'tol'k, wildlift', ret.'fe,Hion,
<br />mining: and ('ducation, has workf'd dOst'ly with
<br />the Forest ~('f\'il'e and othNs in the dewlap-
<br />ment of the "pilot t~t" program. The Arizona
<br />Game and Fi",h Depannwnt. Arizona St.ate
<br />
<br />Land Dt'partmt'nt. t-. ~. Geologiml SlIf\'{'y,
<br />University of Arizona. Agricultural He...earch
<br />Sf'rvin', Soil ConsPl'vation Spf\'ice, Snit River
<br />Project Agricultural ImprO\'ement and Power
<br />Di...trict. ~alt Hin'r Vnlley Water L'sers' AsJ':.oc-
<br />iation, nllt! oth{'[ group... are al...o cooperating
<br />in ",ome a:-:pt'l't.s of the testing.
<br />
<br />Water is a mosl vital fe",ouree, hut the other
<br />forest u:-::e... and re"ource", are al",o of grf'at ,'alue.
<br />The"e studies, a.s a ha...i.... for determining future
<br />management practice.... mu~t consider the need....
<br />and relative importancp of <111 u...e.s_ An action
<br />program is eontcmplated as a result of the test-
<br />ing, but will not \){'{'omt' a rt'alit\' until there is
<br />a sound hackgnlUnd of experie~cf' which will
<br />prove that tht' management practiee,.; will benf"-
<br />fit the \"ational Forest rei>ourn>,.; ant! the people
<br />of Arizona.
<br />
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