Canadian Forest Hydrology
Cotton Creek, BC
Research Site Metadata
Location
Kootenay Mountains, Southeast, BC
Columbian Forest Region
49°21′N 115°49′W
Watershed Area(s): 105 to 1736 ha
Total Relief: 1000 m
Mean Annual Runoff: 650 mm
Mean Annual Precipitation: 700 mm
Mean Temperature: Jan -5.9°C; July 18.3°C*
Total Relief: 1000 m
Mean Annual Runoff: 650 mm
Mean Annual Precipitation: 700 mm
Mean Temperature: Jan -5.9°C; July 18.3°C*
• Long-term climate record including the occurrence of major ENSO and PDO cycles*.
• Climatic setting of the study period*.
• Typical annual Hydrograph and precipitation pattern for the Redfish Creek research site.
*climate data are from the nearby Nelson NE MSC station.
More Information
West Arm Demonstration Forest
Landscape
Cotton Creek is a snowmelt driven watershed in south-eastern British Columbia. It is within the Kootney Mountain Range, which in on the western edge of the Canadian Rockies. The watershed is high in elevation (1100-2100m) with moderately steep slopes. Vegetation is dominated by Lodgepole Pine with some areas of Engelmann spruce and alpine fir. The dominant surficial geology is till veneer, overlaying sedimentary bedrock.
Experimental Design
| Study type | BACI design |
|---|---|
| Treatments | 10% harvested |
| Controls | 1 watershed |
| Study Duration | 1992-present |
| Pre-Harvest | NA |
| Harvest | 1969-1972 |
| Post-Harvest | 1972-present |
Parameters
Discharge, air temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind speed and direction, solar radiation, suspended sediments and snow depth.
Contact
David Gluns, Research Hydrologist
B.C. Ministry of Forests and Range
Phone: (250) 825-1116