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Use of map analysis to elucidate flooding in an Australian Riparian River Red Gum Forest
Author(s) -
Bren L. J.,
O'Neill I. C.,
Gibbs N. L.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/wr024i007p01152
Subject(s) - eucalyptus camaldulensis , flooding (psychology) , floodplain , environmental science , hydrology (agriculture) , vegetation (pathology) , riparian zone , flood myth , wetland , eucalyptus , ecology , geography , geology , habitat , medicine , psychology , geotechnical engineering , archaeology , pathology , psychotherapist , biology
Red gum ( Eucalyptus camaldulensis) forests occur on extensive floodplains along the river Murray in Australia. This type of forest is unusual because of its high quality in a semiarid area, the absence of woody species other than red gum, and its survival on a deep, intractable, swelling clay soil of depths exceeding 20 m. This soil probably acts as an aquiclude. The forests require flooding to thrive and regenerate. For many years there has been speculation that irrigation regulation of the river was reducing forest flooding. A grid cell analysis of flood maps of areas flooded over a period of 22 years showed that vegetation communities and forest site quality were statistically related to the flood frequencies of sites. The percentage of forest inundated was dependent on the peak daily flow during the period of inundation. A historical analysis of the estimated percentage of forest inundated showed a substantial influence of river regulation on both timing and extent of inundation. Estimates of historical floodings showed that the environment is one that changes rapidly from wetland to dry land. Although not without limitations, the analysis produced information not available from other sources.