FE 430530

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FE 430-530 Watershed Processes
http//www.cof.orst.edu/cof/fe/research/fswq/

Read pp 3-18 for today, Drainage Basin Morph.
Chapter for Wed.
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Topic 1. Introduction

• Forest Hydrology-brief perspective
• Terminology-common language
• Historical perspective-a sense of place
• Hydrologic Cycle-a context for the course

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I. Forest Hydrology Brief perspective A.
Importance of water - Solvent -
Coolant - Energy source - Transportation
medium - Recreation base - Habitat -
Silvicultural/Ag raw material - Agent for
waste removal
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B. Current issues - Population pressure -
Increasing per capita demand - Settlement of
arid lands floodplains - Water rights
conflicts - Water quality pollution
concerns - Multiple-use conflicts - Government
regulations - Wetland preservation
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B. Current issues (continued) - Landslides -
Hypoxia (Gulf of Mexico) - TE species -
Cumulative impacts - Basin-based mgt. (TMDLs) -
Global climate change - Life!!!
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II. Terminology A. Hydrology study of water
in all its forms (liquid, solid, gas) on, in,
over the land areas of the earth
including 1. Quantity 2. Quality (value
based on use) 3. Timing/regimen 4. Energy
deposition 5. Reaction with human influence
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B. Forest Hydrology Effects of forest on the
water cycle (erosion, sedimentation, water
quantiy/quality, microclimate) C. Watershed
Drainage basin/catchment topographically delin
eated area drained by a stream total land area
above some point on a stream that drains past
that point.
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Watersheds-multiple scales
McKenzie River Basin, OR
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D. Watershed management Process of
guiding/organizing land other resource use on
a watershed to provide desired goods services
w/o adversely affecting soil water
resources. (recognition of interrelationships
among land use, soil, water)
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• III. Historical perspective
• A. Hydraulic civilizations
• Mesopotamia, Indus
• Nile River basins, Negev Desert
• B. Science of hydrology
• 400 BC Aristotle - condensation
• Romans water engineers
• 1500 da Vinci water cycle
• 1680 Seine River basin
• precip, ET, runoff

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• B. Science of hydrology (continued)
• 1693 Halley water balance for Med.
• Sea
• 1738 Bernoulli physics of water flow
• in pipes, channels, streams
• 1863 Marshs Man and Nature
• hydrologic role of forests/deforestation
• 1877-1910 forest influence period
• origin of conservation movement

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• B. Science of hydrology (continued)
• 1910 Wagon Wheel Gap (paired)
• 1911 Weeks Law (National Forests)
• 1919 Meade-1st hydrology text
• 1932 FDR New Deal (CCC)
• 1936 Flood Control Act (ACE)
• 1960-80 Water/Env protection acts
• 1990-present Sustainable devp,
• local watershed councils

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transfer
pool