Catchment experiments in mountain ash forests at North Maroondah

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The MMBW North Maroondah Experimental Area contains a series of controlled catchment experiments consisting of twelve small catchments sited in 1939 regrowth mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) and two larger catchments sited in old growth mountain ash forest. The experiment was initiated in 1968 after preliminary research indicated that changes in forest structures and age could lead to important changes in streamflow. The experiment is designed to evaluate the effect on streamflow of reducing the density of existing 1939 stands and controlling stand density at regeneration. For the regrowth catchments significant relationships between average annual catchment water loss and both catchment radiation and the mountain ash forest basal area on the catchment were determined. The latter relationship indicated that basal area reduction has the potential to increase streamflow. A similar relationship was found between annual catchment loss and stocking for the combined old growth and regrowth catchments data. The Black Spur Group of catchments were calibrated for pretreatment streamflow using annual control catchment streamflow, rainfall data and a mathematical water balance model. Calibration of catchments for average soil moisture was also achieved. The first experimental treatments aimed at investigating stand density reduction were applied in the Black Spur Group of catchments during the summer of 1976/77, and the treatments aimed at investigating the control of regeneration density were applied in the Monda Group of catchments during the summer of 1977/78.

This publication has 4 references indexed in Scilit: