Hydrological resilience of a Canadian Rockies headwaters basin subject to changing climate, extreme weather, and forest management

• DOI: 10.1002/hyp.10596
• Publication Date: 2015-06-26T10:15:10Z
• Authors: Phillip Harder; John W. Pomeroy; Cherie J. Westbrook
• Keywords: Flood forecasting; Snowmelt; Flash flood

Abstract Marmot Creek Research Basin in the Canadian Rockies has been site of intensive streamflow, groundwater, snow accumulation, precipitation, and air temperature observations at multiple elevations. The basin was instrumented 1962, subjected to forestry experiments mid‐1970s, experienced extreme flooding 2013. Climate change, forest cover recent weather make an ideal laboratory for studying hydrological resilience. Observations show increases low elevation temperature, day spring interannual variability high groundwater levels. also decreases peak seasonal accumulation Despite these substantial hydrometeorological changes, streamflow volume, timing peak, magnitude are not changing. Streamflow volumes insensitive changes teleconnections. June 2013 flood unprecedented period record, significantly moderated response precipitation; storm precipitation depth 65% greater than next highest total over 51 years; however, only 32% flow recorded. hydrology displays remarkable resilience changing climate, weather, change. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.