investigating the effects of woody bioenergy crops on water quality and quantity

USDA FS SRSCenter for Forest Watershed Science

Coweeta Hydrologic Lab in Otto NCSantee Experimental Forest in Cordesville SC

Coldwater Fish Unit in Blacksburg VA

Investigating the Effects of Woody Bioenergy Crops on Water Quality and Quantity

Study #1:Potential Watershed Responses to Eucalyptus Culture in the Southern United States

How much water does Eucalyptus use relative to other species?Are differences great enough to matter?

Eucalyptus grandis plantation

Study RegionD (kPa)

0 1 2 3 4 5

g s (

mm

ol H

2O

m-2

leaf

are

a s-1

)

0

100

200

300

400

500P. palustrisE. grandis water limited

E. grandis non water limited

Watershed above USGS stream gage 02353500 Ichawaynochaway Creek at Milford Georgia Current Land Cover from NAS

Uses a combination of observed tree & crop water use, & leaf-level models of E. grandis

Developed AET/PET relationships & validated AET at the landscape scale with current LC & gage data (P-Ro)

Run simulations with changing LC & climate

Investigating the Effects of Woody Bioenergy Crops on Water Quality and Quantity

Study #2:Watershed Study on Hydrologic and Water Quality Effects of Interplanting Switchgrass in Plantation Pine (NC, AL & MS sites)

Switchgrass interplanted with pine has potential for production of an energy crop without competition for land needed for food production. A paired watershed approach coupled with a model will be used to assess objectives.

Loblolly Pine

Switch grass

Monitoring & Predicting the Effects of Climate Warming on Brook Trout Habitat

GCMs predict 1:1 ratio of air temperature rise to water temperature rise If accurate, then 80% loss of brook trout habitat with climate change

Initial network of 50 stream temp and air temp sites (2008-2009) across southern Appalachians showed 0.4:1 ratio

Network expanded in 2010 to 204 sites out of 4000 sites, stratified random sample, most sites are on private land

Loblolly Pine

Switch grass

• New study leverages existing

southern Appalachian network & expands gradient to sea

• 3M people (both urbanization & agriculture)

• Rich aquatic biodiversity

• Severe projected impacts of climate change by 2050

• Once you leave mtns, sites mostly on private lands

Second largest estuary in the US

Second largest estuary in the US

Joint Venture Study Basin – Ecosystem ServicesAlbemarle–Pamlico