Project Details
Landform-Based Hydrologic Indicators of Disturbance in Heterogeneous Landscapes: Water Cycling In Relation To Disturbance in the Western Boreal Forest
Project devitokland10
Initiated Date : June 1st, 2004
Status: Ongoing
Keywords: climate :: cumulative effects :: hydrologic :: landscapes :: management tools :: scale dependent :: impacts Western Boreal Forest
Research Area
G - Water and Wetlands
Our project aims to:
1. Develop a hydrogeologic framework to define landscape units that control the storage and movement of water in the Western Boreal Forest (WBF);
2. Determine the best model structure to predict hydrologic response to land disturbance, given the variability of the region's climate and landforms; and
3. Provide a tool to evaluate the effectiveness of riparian areas in ameliorating water quantity and quality impacts of forest activities, at varying scales over a Forest Management Agreement (FMA) area.
We will use a combined field studies-modelling approach. This will allow us to assess the spatial and temporal scales at which hydrological responses (wetland and groundwater levels, stream peak, base flows, etc.) to disturbance (fire, harvesting, etc.) will occur. The models developed through this research can be coupled with our partners' Geographic Information System (GIS)-based forest management practices (FMPs), and used to define appropriate criteria and indicators (C&I) of change. The models can also be used to evaluate cumulative watershed effects (CWE) of land management scenarios, on water quantity and quality.
British Columbia
Manitoba
Saskatchewan
Yukon