Possible Effects of Weather Modification (Increased Snowpack) on Festuca idahoensis Meadows

Abstract

When compared with undrifted sites, meadow sites with artificially induced drifts have shorter growing seasons, higher average growing season temperatures due to the absence of a cool spring, similar growing season soil water availabilities, and slightly less available nutrients due to leaching. Community composition, plant production, and plant phenology were affected slightly by doubling snow pack to 12-dm and were affected considerably by quadrupling snow pack to 24-dm. Though larger increases in snowfall might, it seems unlikely that 20-30% increases in winter precipitation would significantly affect the vegetation of Festuca idahoensis meadows.