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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Boise, Idaho » Northwest Watershed Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #310902
Title: Estimating hydrologic and erosion response for use in ecological site descriptions

Author
item Williams, Christopher - Jason
item Pierson Jr, Frederick
item SPAETH, KENNETH - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, USDA)
item BROWN, JOEL - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, USDA)
item Weltz, Mark
item Nearing, Mark
item AL-HAMDAN, OSAMA - University Of Idaho

Submitted to: Society for Range Management Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/19/2014
Publication Date: 2/1/2015
Citation: Williams, C.J., Pierson Jr, F.B., Spaeth, K.E., Brown, J.R., Weltz, M.A., Nearing, M.A., Al-Hamdan, O. 2015. Estimating hydrologic and erosion response for use in ecological site descriptions [abstract]. Society for Range Management Meeting Abstracts.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Ecological resilience of rangeland landscapes is strongly related to eco-hydrologic pattern-process feedbacks that regulate the retention or loss of water and soil resources. However, key ecohydrologic information is often lacking in Ecological Site Descriptions (ESDs) used to guide management of rangelands. In this study, we developed a framework and methodology for inclusion of key hydrologic information and eco-hydrologic feedbacks in ESDs. In our presentation, we identify the data required for inclusion of key ecohydrologic information into ESDs, demonstrate application of the Rangeland Hydrology and Erosion Model (RHEM) for populating hydrologic data in ESDs, and present a framework for eco-hydrologic data integration within the current ESD structure. The framework is presented as a broadly applicable methodology for integrating ecohydrologic relationships and feedbacks into ESDs and guiding resilience-based management strategies.