Direct and Indirect Effects of Forest Harvesting on Sediment Yield in Forested Watersheds of the United States

Managed forests generally produce high water quality, but degradation is possible via sedimentation if proper management is not implemented during forest harvesting. To mitigate harvesting effects on total watershed sediment yield, it is necessary to understand all processes that contribute to these effects. Forest harvesting best management practices (BMPs) focus almost exclusively on overland sediment sources, whereas in‐and‐near stream sources go unaddressed although they can contribute substantially to sediment yield. Thus, we propose a new framework to classify forest harvesting effects on stream sediment yield according to their direct and indirect processes. Direct effects are those caused by erosion and sediment delivery to surface water from overland sources (e.g., forest roads). Indirect effects are those caused by a shift in hydrologic processes due to tree removal that accounts for increases in subsurface and surface flows to the stream such that alterations in water quality are not predicated upon overland sediment delivery to the stream, but rather in‐stream processes. Although the direct/indirect distinction is often implicit in forest hydrology studies, we have formalized it as a conceptual model to help identify primary drivers of sediment yield after forest harvesting in different landscapes. Based on a literature review, we identify drivers of these effects in five regions of the United States, discuss current forest management BMPs, and identify research needs.     

SWOT analysis for socio-ecological landscape variation as a precursor to the management of the mountainous Kanshi watershed,Salt Range of Pakistan

Variations in geo-environmental attributes differ strongly from those of urban anthropogenic structures. Similarly, these types of structures are self-directed and arranged and prone to abrupt process-related changes and modifications. Thus, there are many reasons why planned urbanization forms in association with disturbances in ecosystem mobility. The current research highlights these variations in the context of social–cultural assessments within the Jhelum River watershed, which strongly expresses urbanization structure development mechanisms. The climate ranges from semi-arid to subhumid subtropical and sub-mountainous climate, though the extreme temperatures may rise as high as 49.4°C in June and may drop as low as ?1.6°C in January. The rainfall is low in the southwest and gradually increases towards the northeast, whereas the Salt Range is the major topographic feature that controls climatic impacts and promotes sustainable development. Cross-disciplinary methods are adopted in this investigation to assess the social–ecological landscape system (SELS) in terms of its mobility and degree of urbanization. The Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda recognize that human livelihoods and the management of natural resources cannot be addressed separately. Investing in the sustainability of mountain communities and ecosystem conservation and protection will provide benefits for humanity as a whole. It pertains to the commensurate development of the SELS and its response to interruptions. Thus, a reliable SWOT analysis for management approaches is introduced that may enable the development of competencies that promote and lead towards rapid improvements in the sustainability of retrograde urban infrastructure, including watersheds.     

中国东部典型森林生态系统蒸散及其组分变异规律研究

森林蒸散包括植被蒸腾、土壤蒸发、冠层截留蒸发三个组分,在陆地生态系统水分循环及能量流动研究中占有重要地位。论文基于Priestley-Taylor Jet Propulsion Laboratory Model （PT-JPL）模型,估算温带针阔混交林、人工常绿针叶林、亚热带常绿阔叶林三个典型森林生态系统2003-2008年蒸散（组分）;在模拟结果基础上揭示了蒸散（组分）的季节变异规律及主控因子。结果表明：①PT-JPL模型在中国东部森林生态系统蒸散及其组分估算中具有较高的稳定性和可靠性;②蒸散（组分）季节变化特征明显,不同森林生态系统类型变化规律差异较小,但主控因子存在较大差异：温带针阔混交林蒸散和植被蒸腾季节变异主要由净辐射和增强植被指数（EVI）共同控制,而亚热带人工常绿针叶林和亚热带常绿阔叶林主要受净辐射影响;EVI和饱和水汽压差（VPD）是土壤蒸发季节变异的主控因子,截留蒸发的季节变化则主要受VPD影响。     

基于改进输出系数模型的云南宝象河流域非点源污染负荷估算

本文引入降雨、地形因子(α、β)对经典的输出系数模型(ECM)进行改进,基于1999~2010年云南宝象河流域气象、水文、社会经济等数据,利用改进的输出系数模型(IECM)对该地区(位于滇池的东北部,绝大部分在官渡区内,西北部少部分在盘龙区内)的非点源污染负荷进行估算.结果显示,2008年宝象河流域非点源氮、磷污染的所占比例(分别为74.2%和68.0%)要显著高于点源氮、磷污染的所占比例(分别为25.8%和32.0%).氮污染中,不同非点源的贡献率依次为土地利用类型>大气沉降>农村生活>畜禽养殖;磷污染中,不同非点源污染的贡献率为土地利用类型>农村生活>大气沉降>畜禽养殖.宝象河流域的非点源氮污染比例要高于整个滇池流域,非点源磷污染比例与滇池流域较为接近.与实际观测值比较,IECM对TN、TP负荷的估算值的平均相对偏差分别为15%和-6%,ECM对TN、TP负荷的估算值的平均相对偏差分别为54%和17%.这表明改进的输出系数模型(IECM)提高了结果的准确性,可以为滇池流域的污染(尤其是非点源污染)负荷估算提供参考方法.     

丘陵地区流域土地利用对氮素径流输出的影响

氮素是地表水体富营养化的一个限制因子,土地利用对农业非点源污染的氮素输出具有重要的影响.以位于亚热带低山丘陵地区的安徽省南部宣城市梅村流域为实例,通过航空遥感图像解译、GIS分析和实地定位动态监测方法,研究了具有不同土地利用结构的农-林生态系统地表径流水的氮素含量和输出通量及其与土地利用的定量关系.结果表明:氮素的输出以NO₃^--N的输出为主,土地利用类型或土地利用格局对径流水中氮素的含量和输出具有非常显著的影响.在同一种土地利用结构系统下,NO₃^--N与T-N的含量间具有极显著的正线性关系;而只有林地-水塘系统下,NH₄⁺-N与T-N的含量间有极显著线性关系.而各类氮素的输出量间都具有极显著正的线性相关关系.各类氮素的输出量都与土地利用类型具有指数相关性,林地、水塘对氮素输出具有负效应,而水田和村庄则具有正效应.同时,土地利用类型对径流中氮素的含量也有影响.     

THE WESTERN WATER COMMISSION: WATERSHED MANAGEMENT RECEIVES THE AVI'ENTION OF A NEW GENERATION1

ABSTRACT: Our nation periodically reviews national water policy and considers its directions for the future. The most recent examination was directed at the western United States and the role of the federal agencies in meeting its needs. The West is no longer the frontier, but rather contains vibrant cities and booming centers of international trade, as well as tourism, mineral, and oil and gas development, agricultural, and other development. In this changing environment, federal water policies need to consider the long term sustainability of the West, provide justice to Indian tribes, protect the rivers and ecosystems on which natural systems depend, balance the needs of newcomers with those of agricultural users and communities, and meet a myriad of other demands. The Western Water Policy Review Advisory Commission has just concluded its review of these issues and issued its report. Key among the recommendations is the need to coordinate federal agencies at the basin and watershed level and make government more responsive to local needs, but within a framework that includes national mandates. The Commission's recommendations are presented here, along with some of the issues that surrounded the operations of the Commission.     

CHANNEL MORPHOLOGY EVOLUTION AND OVERBANK FLOW IN THE GEORGIA PIEDMONT1

ABSTRACT: Historic changes in stream channel morphology were investigated in the Georgia Piedmont to better understand the hydrologic processes and functioning of the region's riverine systems. USGS gaging station data and channel geomorphology data were collected from thirty study sites in the Upper Oconee River Basin for flood frequency analysis. Historic and modern (i.e., present-day) channel capacity discharge (i.e., overbank flow) was calculated using Manning's equation and historic channel cross-section records. The recurrence interval for overbank flow was estimated for each site from flood frequency data. Results indicate that channel expansion has occurred throughout the basin, especially in upper reaches. Recurrence intervals for modern overbank events were variable and generally high ranging from < 2 to > 500 years for first to third order streams. They were less variable and lower for fourth and fifth order streams, ranging from < 2 to 3 years. Potential depositional thresholds were identified that exemplify the complex response of sediment distribution patterns throughout the basin. Results indicate overbank flows occur less frequently now than they once did due to historic accelerated sedimentation and subsequent channel expansion. One application of these findings is that these basin processes are likely applicable across the region and may impact the hydrologic functioning of associated Piedmont riverine wetlands that depend on flooding regimes.     

LANDCARE AND COMMUNITY-LED WATERSHED MANAGEMENT IN VICTORIA,AUSTRALIA1

ABSTRACT: Australia's ‘Landcare’ program is a community-based participatory program established by government to tackle the problem of land degradation. Landcare involves thousands of Australians working together in locally based groups, tackling problems of common concern. Government and community are now looking to ‘scale up’ the Landcare idea to a regional level. State and territory governments have moved to create regional (often watershed-based) frameworks for land management planning and resource conservation, in accordance with the concept of integrated watershed management. Growing out of the success of community involvement in Landcare, many of these approaches involve the community. However scaling up of the Landcare idea introduces problems of both time and space. There have been a number of problems experienced in the implementation of Landcare and integrated watershed management. These problems include the equitable delineation of membership on decision-making bodies; the raising of sufficient funds for program implementation; and the coordination of a diversity of governmental layers, planning processes and management programs. This paper reviews how the State of Victoria has responded to these challenges and suggests what challenges remain.     

DEFINING WATERSHED-SCALE EVAPORATION USING A NORMALIZED DIFFERENCE VEGETATION INDEX1

Monthly composites of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Indices (NDVI), derived from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVILRR), were transformed linearly into monthly evaporation rates and compared with detailed hydrologic-model simulation results for five watersheds across the United States. Model-simulated monthly evaporation values showed high correlations (mean R²= .77) with NDVI-derived evaporation estimates. These latter estimates, used in a classical water balance model, resulted in equally accurate simulations of monthly runoff than when the model was run to estimate monthly evaporation via soil moisture accounting. Comparison of NDVI-derived evaporation estimates with pan data showed promise for transforming NDVI values into evaporation estimates under both wet and water-limiting conditions without resorting to the application of any kind of calibrated hydrologic models.     

Evolution and Application of Urban Watershed Management Planning

The development of Watershed Management Plans (WMPs) in urban areas aids municipalities in allocating resources, engaging the public and stakeholders, addressing water quality regulations, and mitigating issues related to stormwater runoff and flooding. In this study, 124 urban WMPs across the United States were reviewed to characterize historic approaches and identify emerging trends in watershed planning. Planning methods and tools were qualitatively evaluated, followed by statistical analyses of a subset of 63 WMPs to identify relationships between planning factors. Plans developed by a municipality or consultant were associated with more occurrences of hydrologic modeling and site‐specific recommendations, and fewer occurrences of characterizing social watershed factors, than plans authored by agencies, organizations, or universities. WMPs in the past decade exhibited greater frequency in the use of pollutant load models and spatially explicit hydrologic and hydraulic models. Project prioritization was found to increasingly focus on feasibility to implement proposed strategies. More recent plans additionally exhibited greater consideration for water quality, ecological health, and public participation. Innovation in planning methods and consideration of future watershed conditions are primary areas that were found to be deficient in the study WMPs, although analysis methods and tools continue to improve in the wake of advancing technology and data availability.