Effects of Disturbance on Forested Catchments
Many of the research questions we ask focus on understanding the effects of disturbances on forested watersheds, particularly the impacts of forest management and climate change on streamflow, sediment transport, stream temperature, and aquatic ecology. In doing so, we also consider the natural variability and intrinsic characteristics of the landscape. We rely on observations and experiments, often using data collected over multiple decades.
My research program is currently focused on understanding the effects of wildfire on ecosystems. The motivation became clear after two-thirds of the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest burned in August 2023 with the Lookout Fire. Since then, we have secured funding from the Volkswagen Foundation and the National Science Foundation:
Volkswagen Foundation Project: In collaboration with Julian Klaus (University of Bonn), we aim to provide a unique pre- and post-fire dataset on streamflow, hydrological tracers, and water quality. We will quantify changes in hydrological processes—specifically stream water sources and transit times—for six watersheds using stable water isotopes.
NSF Project (#2424997): In collaboration with Pamela Sullivan and Mark Raleigh, our aim is to disentangle the impacts of soil burn severity (SBS) and tree mortality on snow dynamics, infiltration, and runoff generation across watersheds with contrasting storage capacities.
Some Relevant Publications *Former/current student or postdoc
37. *Goodman, A. C., Segura, C., Jones, J. A., & Swanson, F. J. (2022). Seventy years of watershed response to floods and changing forestry practices in western Oregon, USA. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, n/a. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.5537
34. *Crampe, E. A., Segura, C., & Jones, J. A. (2021). Fifty years of runoff response to conversion of old-growth forest to planted forest in the H. J. Andrews Forest, Oregon, USA. Hydrological Processes, 35, e14168. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.14168.
28. Segura, C., Bladon, K. D., Hatten, J. A., Jones, J. A., Hale, V. C., & Ice, G. G. (2020). Long-term effects of forest harvesting on summer low flow deficits in the Coast Range of Oregon. Journal of Hydrology, 585, 124749. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.124749 Press relese here.