The representativeness of small forested experimental watersheds in northeastern United States

Budapest

S. 441-456

7 Abb., 9 Tab., 15 Lit. Ang.

Bandaufführung

165034

The use of small experimental watersheds is a standard method employed to investigate watershed management techniques. Selection and establishment of such watersheds are generally based upon physical characteristics because of the usual absence of streamflow data. The problem of application and extension of research results obtained from the experimental watersheds to other areas logically raises the question as to whether they are typical and representative of the region in which they are located. During the past ten years 27 small forested experimental watersheds have been established in the Northeast. To determine the representativeness of three of these watersheds a comparison was made of their streamflow characteristics with that of larger forested watersheds in the same physiographic region which had been gaged for a long period of time by the U. S. Geological Survey. Physiographic regions represented by the three experimental watersheds were Northern New England, Southern New England and Ridge and Valley. Streamflow characteristics investigated were annual and seasonal water yields, flow duration, and number and size of daily peak flows. Results indicate that the small experimental watersheds investigated adequately represent their respective physiographic regions. Streamflow relationships illustrated should be useful in the extension and application of research results from the small experimental watersheds to other areas.