Three processes were examined that impact snowpack levels after timber harvest: interception, redistribution, and evaporation. Interception and redistribution increase snowpack levels by decreasing snow loss in tree canopies and disrupting wind patterns to deposit more snow in clearings. However, increased snow evaporation from larger clearings works to offset these gains. While some studies have found snow evaporation to be negligible, others show it can significantly reduce water yield increases from timber harvest depending on factors like opening size and humidity. An optimal harvest size may exist where gains from redistribution are maximized and losses from evaporation are minimized.