Volume 5, Number 3 • Summer 2003
WETLANDS HYDROLOGYExamining the hydrological aspects of ecological engineering and environmental issues involved in wetland protection, restoration and creation is the purpose of the Technical Committee on "Wetlands Hydrology", a Committee of the EWRI Watershed Council. The Committee's efforts focus on defining the dominant hydrologic parameters relevant to wetland studies; identifying methods and techniques for monitoring those parameters; developing guidelines for data analysis; and identifying criteria for measuring the success of wetland programs. Since October of 2001, the Committee has developed two Task Committees -- the Committee’s predecessor, the Task Committee on "Hydrologic Monitoring of Wetlands", now chaired by Ananta Nath of the South Florida Water Management District, and a Task Committee on "Hydrologic Modeling of Wetlands", chaired by Vince Neary of Tennessee Tech.The Task Committee on "Hydrologic Monitoring of Wetlands" identified the inherent lack of information and guidelines for obtaining and analyzing wetlands hydrologic data. This limited the ability of the original Task Committee to recommend criteria for wetland hydrologic studies. We noted that most of the current follow-up monitoring programs focus on the flora and fauna of the site, and very little information is developed to evaluate the "success" of wetlands hydrology. Therefore, it is often difficult to determine whether a wetland is functioning as designed, or if it is functioning in a way that approximates a reference "natural" wetland’s hydrology. Where sampling data exist, the sampling programs were often insufficient to apply standard hydrologic data analysis methods. To address these deficiencies, the Task Committee proposed the formation of the new Technical Committee that would develop guidelines for baseline hydrologic monitoring of wetlands, and for monitoring programs to establish data to develop, calibrate and validate numerical simulation models. Although the methods discussed will be drawn from standard hydrologic monitoring practices, we believe that it will be important to emphasize those methods that are unique to wetland studies. Examples of specific field conditions that necessitate innovative methods will be considered. The second Task Committee on "Hydrologic Modeling of Wetlands" was set up (1) to provide an overview of the state-of-the-art in wetland water budget modeling, (2) to provide guidance for wetland science and engineering practitioners on model selection and application, and (3) to determine the present shortcomings of wetland modeling and to outline future research needs. To date, the Task Committee has identified members and is conducting a literature search of available models and their applications, for further analysis and review. The Committee is seeking to identify the current state-of-the-art in wetland water budget modeling, and to identify shortcomings and issues that need to be resolved. The literature review should be completed later this year, and the Task Committee’s report delivered in 2004. The Wetlands Hydrology Technical Committee is still in its developmental stage. Our general mission is to pull together what is known about wetlands hydrology, focused through the creation and support of various Task Committees, and then to disseminate our findings through journal articles, conference presentations, guidance documents and technical notes. The Wetlands Hydrology Technical Committee is currently working to:
We believe that this Committee meets an important need for providing additional information and guidance in the hydrology for all types of wetlands and wetland studies. We invite you to join us in this interesting work. |