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Location: Upper Fraser, Northern BC Project Summary
The infestation of the Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB) has turned into a major threat to the natural habitat of British Columbia. A key impact of the infestation has been a reduction of forest cover, which is a key modifier of the watershed’s peak flow regime. In the current project phase, the University of British Columbia (UBC) will develop a hydrological model to predict these peak flow increases. Since major parts of the interior of British Columbia have only a limited number of gauging stations (or are even ungauged), the goal is to develop a hydrological model that does not rely on complex data inputs for its validation and calibration procedures. The proposed model will consist of an input component and a runoff generation component. The input component determines the mean annual snow melt and maximum rainfall based on climatic data. This information will be used to determine the time and the capacity of the peak flow for every 3rd order watershed. The runoff generation component uses the dominant runoff process, mapped in the last project phase, to estimate the potential runoff production for each grid cell. Combining the two components, the model will compute a map of peak flow contribution that can later be used to assess sensitive areas for peak flow production. An important future application of the model will be the modification of land cover. The proposed technique is flexible and can be directly incorporated into other assessment procedures. The approach will enable decision makers to better evaluate risks to public safety, infrastructure and, in particular, to fish habitat from present and proposed development activities and from possible scenarios of natural disturbance. This will enable decision-makers to develop more effective risk mitigation strategies.
Location: Upper Fraser, Northern BC Project Summary
The University of British Columbia (UBC) will be mapping peak flow generation areas and their contribution to peak flows for each third order watershed within the Fraser River Basin. A methodology will be proposed and tested to assess the cumulative effects of these changes on salmonid habitat, sediment generation, flood risk assessment and aquatic ecosystem management within the Fraser River Basin. This project and its methodology will benefit large non-assessed areas in BC affected by the Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB), as it will analyze the relative changes in hydrology due to land-use changes caused by MPB based on delineating hydrological processes in watersheds. Given the unprecedented extent of forest loss that is underway in British Columbia as a result of the MPB epidemic and the magnitude of probable future forest conversion expected with climate change, the development and application of this approach will yield considerable benefits particularly to the public and to industry. The project will enable decision makers to better evaluate risks to public safety, infrastructure, drinking water, fish habitat, and recreational opportunities from present and proposed development activities and from possible scenarios of natural disturbance. Decision-makers will be able to develop prescriptions or risk mitigation strategies based on this information. |
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