ISSN: 0024-1148 Russian Journal of Forest Science. 2016, No. 5, pp. 365-374

Received 09 June 2015

The effect of principal fellings on surface runoff was studied on the basis of long-term monitoring of creeks runoff from experimental fellings on watersheds in Gorskii forest hydrology station in North- Western Caucasus (Tuapsinsky District, Krasnodar Krai). No stable conditions of runoff formation within 28 years after the experimental fellings were observed. Clear fellings with tractors involved in harvesting had maximal impacts on runoff in oak forests. Runoff in creeks has increased by 1.46 times during 30 years period after clear felling. Maximal increase of 2.5 times occurred during the two years following the felling. On the other hand there were no changes in runoff in areas of gap felling compared to control watershed. The experimental studies supported the idea of surface runoff indication of climate and subsurface changes (mainly the ground and soil cover) in various stands. We found that surface runoff forms dynamically in terms of timing and genesis. We also assessed the contribution of surface runoff to water balance and its various components at different scales from catchments to major regional river basins.

• Keywords: surface runoff, montane forest, oak forest, sessile oak, experimental felling, flood, Western Caucasus.

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