Hydrologic equilibrium status of a disturbed Eastern North Carolina watershed

Abstract

Evaluation of the impacts of artificial drainage systems on wetlands requires an assessment of the hydrologic equilibrium status of the surface hydrologic system. Hydrologic equilibrium is characterised by a high correlation between surplus moisture (as calculated by Thornthwaite's methodology) and stream discharge. A qualitative stability analysis shows that deterioration of artificial drainage channels is the process allowing the surface hydrologic system to adjust to the disturbances. The model is tested by examining the correlation between surplus and discharge for a small watershed altered by forestry drainage which is periodically rehabilitated. With hydrologic equilibeium arbitrarily defined as a surplus-discharge correlation coefficient ≽ 0.8, it is shown that the original, largely undisturbed watershed was in hydrologic equilibrium. Disequilibrium was induced by artificial drainage-ways, with a return to equilibrium over time. Subsequent renovations of ditches and canals were associated with a recurrence of disequilibrium. The surface hydrologic system is metastable, and cannot be expected to return to previously-existing states following a disturbance. Consistently maintained artificial drainage system appears to preclude any return to any type of hydrologic equilibrium.