Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: BurbankKarl

Twenty inches of rain in 24 hours is extraordinary, even in Washington state. I lived there through some major storms in the past, and the flooding isn’t caused by logging. TWith enough rain, the landslides happen anyway, but are more visible in clearcut areas. The rugged terrain testifies to frequent gullywashers and creations, and trees just grow back over it.

You must also consider that unharvested forests will burn in the hot summers and the land will be vulnerable to visible mudslides the next winter.

It is always changing — erosion is natural.


9 posted on 12/16/2007 12:50:25 AM PST by ValerieTexas
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies ]


To: ValerieTexas
"...You must also consider that unharvested forests will burn in the hot summers and the land will be vulnerable to visible mudslides the next winter..."

Actually fire hardens the soil, increasing the speed of runoff downstream. The flooding downstream is worse after a fire, but there's less soil in the mix of floodwaters than when clearcut.

More from Colorado's experience with fire: http://csfs.colostate.edu/post_fire.htm

15 posted on 12/16/2007 2:31:15 AM PST by Does so (...against all enemies, DOMESTIC and foreign...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson