@article {46865,
	title = {Associations between watershed characteristics, runoff, and stream quality: hypothesis development for watershed disturbance experiments and modelling in the Forest Watershed and Riparian Disturbance (FORWARD) project},
	volume = {5},
	year = {2006},
	note = {Good map of location of creeks},
	pages = {S27-S37},
	publisher = {Journal of  Environmental Engineering and Science},
	abstract = { The FORWARD project, based on the Boreal Plain of Alberta, was initiated to develop models to predict the influence of watershed disturbance on runoff and stream water quality. To generate hypotheses relating to watershed controls on streams in the presence and absence of disturbance, we quantified relationships between stream variables and soil distribution in nine undisturbed small (M = 5.4 km2) watersheds for two relatively dry and snowmelt-dominated seasons (May through October 2002 and 2003). We also considered data from one harvested and two burned watersheds. Among soil types, only peatland cover had an association with runoff and water quality. Runoff and ammonium exports were positively related to peatland cover in both years (r2 = 0.50 to 0.90; P < 0.05). In the first year, additional relationships to peatland cover existed for particulate phosphorus and suspended sediment exports (r2 = 0.64 and 0.65, respectively), whereas in the second year they existed for dissolved phosphorus and dissolved organic carbon exports (r2 = 0.67 and 0.78, respectively). Hypotheses generated relate to the role of peatlands as sources for water moving toward stream channels, water exchange between streams and riparian groundwater, and the influence of disturbance and precipitation patterns on runoff generation. Key words: watershed disturbance, boreal forest, peatland, stream, suspended sediments, nutrients, runoff, forest harvest, wildfire. Le projet FORWARD, traitant de la plaine boréale d{\textquoteright}Alberta, a été lancé afin de développer des modèles pour prédire l{\textquoteright}influence de la perturbation des bassins hydrologiques sur la qualité du ruissellement et de l{\textquoteright}eau des ruisseaux. Afin de produire des hypothèses sur les contrôles que les bassins hydrologiques exercent sur les ruisseaux, avec et sans perturbation, nous avons quantifié les relations entre les variables des ruisseaux et la distribution du sol dans neuf petits (M = 5,4 km2) bassins hydrologiques non perturbés pendant deux saisons relativement sèches et dominées par la fonte des neiges (mai à octobre 2002 et 2003). Nous avons également tenu compte des données provenant d{\textquoteright}un bassin récolté et de deux bassins brûlés. Parmi les types de sols, seul le couvert de tourbe était associé à la qualité du ruissellement et de l{\textquoteright}eau. Le ruissellement et les sorties d{\textquoteright}ammonium ont été reliés positivement au couvert de tourbe dans les deux années (r2 = 0,50 à 0,90; P < 0,05). Au cours de la première année, il existait des relations additionnelles avec le couvert de tourbe pour les sorties de phosphore particulaire et de sédiments en suspension (r2 = 0,64 et 0,65 respectivement) alors que durant la seconde année, ces relations étaient présentes pour les sorties de phosphore dissous et de carbone organique dissous (r2 = 0,67 et 0,78 respectivement). Les hypothèses élaborées avaient trait au rôle des tourbières comme sources d{\textquoteright}eau pour les ruisseaux et l{\textquoteright}échange d{\textquoteright}eau entre les ruisseaux et l{\textquoteright}eau souterraine riveraine; les hypothèses élaborées tenaient aussi compte de l{\textquoteright}influence de la perturbation et des patrons de précipitation sur la production de ruissellement. Mots clés : perturbation des bassins hydrologiques, forêt boréale, tourbière, ruisseau, sédiments en suspension, nutriments, ruissellement, récolte forestière, incendies de forêt.[Traduit par la rédaction]  Read less },
	url = {http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/s05-033},
	author = {Prepas, E. E. and Burke, J. M. and Whitson, I. R. and Putz, G. and Smith D. W.}
}
