Abstract:
Buffer strips have been proposed as a method for controlling temperature changes in streams adjacent to clear-cuttings. Nine
small mountain streams in Oregon's Coast Range and Cascade Mountains were studied to determine the influence of buffer strips
on water temperature. Timber volume in the strip, strip width, and canopy density perpendicular to the sun's rays were compared
to the effectiveness of the strip in controlling temperature change. This effectiveness was not well correlated with timber volume or strip width. The density of the canopy in the path of the sun is the most important buffer strip characteristic for water temperature control. A method for measuring the density of the canopy in the path of the sun is described. The use of this method in the design of buffer strips will provide protection for the stream and maximum harvesting of the timber resource.
