investigating the effects of woody bioenergy crops on water quality and quantity
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USDA FS SRS Center for Forest Watershed Science Coweeta Hydrologic Lab in Otto NC Santee 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: - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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