This is a preliminary report of results of a study wherein vegetation has been cut along the stream bank of a 22‐acre watershed on the Coweeta Experimental Forest. Previous measurements on this forest have shown that complete removal of vegetation results in notable gains in water yield because of a reduction in transpiration. The cutting of riparian growth has also resulted in an increase in yield of sufficient magnitude to be significant in water‐resource management.Preliminary examination of the data immediately following cutting shows a virtual elimination of the diurnal fluctuation during the growing season. This indicates that the vegetation immediately adjacent to the stream is making appreciable demands upon groundwater supplies contributing directly to streamflow.It can be concluded, therefore, that important gains in water yield during the growing season in the southern Appalachian region may be realized with relatively little effort by eliminating the transpiration draft of riparian vegetation. This procedure can be of much practical value during drought years for municipal and industrial watersheds, when even small increases in yield are of unusual importa