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CRC PUBLICATIONS |
A Critical Review of Paired Catchment Studies
Alice Best,
Lu Zhang,
Tom McMahon,
Andrew Western
and Rob Vertessy
Publication Type:
Technical Report
This publication is hosted by the CRC for Catchment Hydrology
CRC Program:
Landuse Impacts on Rivers
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Publication Keywords:
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Abstract / Summary:
A Critical Review of Paired Catchment Studies with Reference to Seasonal Flows and Climatic Variability
Executive Summary
Since European settlement in Australia, large-scale clearing of native vegetation for agriculture has caused alterations in the hydrologic regime of many Australian catchments. The Forest Plantations 2020 Vision states that by 2020 the area of tree plantations within Australia will treble. If implemented, this will impact on water yield at both local and regional scales. Paired catchment studies have been widely used as a means of determining the magnitude of water yield changes resulting from changes in vegetation and they provide a possible means of predicting the likely impacts of broad-scale vegetation changes on water yield.
This review focuses on the use of paired catchment studies as a means for determining long-term changes in water yield as a result large scale changes in vegetation. Paired catchment studies can be divided into four broad categories: afforestation experiments, deforestation experiments, regrowth experiments and forest conversion experiments. The methods used to assess the magnitude of annual and seasonal changes in water yield have been reviewed and implications for applying paired catchments results to large catchments, where the land use is likely to consist of a mosaic of vegetation at different stages of development, have been identified. Current knowledge gaps in relation to the impacts of broad scale vegetation changes on flow regime and seasonal flows are highlighted and possible methods of addressing these gaps are suggested.
This report is available for downloading (see below). For printed copies of MDBC Publication 11/03 (CRC Technical Report 04/3) please contact Murray-Darling Basin Commission, Level 5, 15 Moore Street, Canberra ACT 2600, Telephone: (02) 6279 0100, from overseas + 61 2 6279 0100, Facsimile: (02) 6248 8053, from overseas + 61 2 6248 8053, Email: info@mdbc.gov.au
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Centre Office:
CRC for Catchment Hydrology
Dept of Civil Engineering
Building 60
Monash University Vic 3800
Tel: +61 3 9905 2704
Fax: +61 3 9905 5033
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