This volume emphasizes the influence of forests and their management on the regimen, quantity and quality of water in the environment. David R. DeWalle marks the important milestones in forest hydrology research with 29 benchmark papers, and provides the context in his commentaries.
"Foundations of Forest Hydrology" includes the early review by Zon (1927) and the Wagon Wheel Gap paired watershed study (Bates & Henry, 1928). Forest Practices and Water Yields and Timing looks at the impacts of management on flows, with contributions by Hoover (1944) and Hewlett & Helvey (1970). Understanding and quantifying forest snow cover processes is represented by three papers in Forest Practices and Snow, including the early study by Wilm & Dunford (1948), while Forest Evapotranspiration considers the seminal developments in the direct measurement and estimation of losses from trees. Kittredge's (1948) review is included in Hydrological Processes and Forests, which covers interception losses, soil moisture, hydraulic lift and precipitation from fog.
The shift in focus from water quantity to quality is reflected in Forests and Water Quality. Finally, Forest Practices and Erosion considers the processes of sediment generation and consequent stream sediment loads associated with logging roads and forest harvesting.
David R. DeWalle is now Professor Emeritus at the School of Forest Resources, Penn State University, USA, after almost 40 years as Professor there and Director of the Pennsylvania State Water Resources Centre. He is past-president and Fellow of the American Water Resources Association.