APSRU PROJECT SUMMARY NO. 11

Project Title:                        Hydrology and erosion modelling – application of process models

Project Supervisor:           Mark Silburn, APSRU

Funding Body:                  QDPI - LMRB

Admin Contact:   Ms Jenny Southwell – part-time casual technician

Commencement Date:                                          Completion Date:   ongoing

Aims:

To provide tools (computer models and parameter values) for prediction of movement of water, sediment and associated chemicals in the landscape, and the impact of land management on these factors.

Specific aims include:

-          application of process based erosion models (esp. CREAMS) to agriculture, horticulture and mine waste rock dumps up to the scale of erosion and deposition in channels (furrows, contour banks, waterways etc). (Clients include Land Con. Branch, Mining Industry & QLD DRI; Cotton, sugar, vegetable industries)

-          application of catchment scale (3D) distributed parameter hydrology and erosion/deposition models to agricultural, mine reclamation and environmental management. (Clients include ICM, Watershed Management Committees, LCB, Mining Industry, Movement of Chemicals in Environment)

Industry Significance:

This project is of great practical significance as it facilitates evaluation of land use effects on the soil resources within, and the water and pollutants exported from catchment areas, based on timely and manageable measurements.

Research Proposal Summary:

-          field and lab studies, and modelling of sediment transport and hydraulics in rills and channels (with R. Loch, G. Govers, C. Ciesiolka, G. Titmarsh)

-          field and lab studies and modelling of soil hydraulic properties and infiltration for use in long term simulation and catchment scale (3D) modelling of hydrology

Proposed application studies (subject to funding) include:

-          evaluation of management of dryland cotton to reduce soil erosion and off-site effects

-          estimates of soil erodibility factors for a range of soils for use in quantitative land evaluation and erosion prediction

-          collaborative work with ICM pilot study of the Johnstone River, NQ

-          improved modelling of channel and runoff erosion, particularly in irrigated cotton, for management of pesticide pollution

Project Publications: