mm mm SCA, % Storage, mm Sto, 1 mm Sat def, 1 mm 25 2 15 1 5 4 3 2 1 2 5 25 2 Saturation deficit depth (water table) Saturation deficit volume Root zone storage Unsaturated soil storage Groundwater storage Canopy Storage Litter Storage % Sat area 1 Rainfall Snowfall Snowpack 75 %SCA 15 1 5 6 4 2 E + T ET+stream Cum snow Cum Snow + rain Transpiration (T) E + T ET + Sublimation 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 3 33 36 Water Year Day 21 2 1 Rain/Snow, mm Snowpack, mm Figure 22: RHESSys output using daily observed temperatures, snowfall and rainfall as inputs. Output variables are snowmelt, evaporation, transpiration, sublimation, Potential ET (PET), Root-Zone (RZ) and unsaturated zone drainage, baseflow, return flow. Also included is the comparison of daily and cumulative observed (obs) and simulated streamflow for Bear Trap Creek in water year 21. 37
mm mm SCA, % Storage, mm Sto, 1 mm Sat def, 1 mm 25 2 15 1 5 4 3 2 1 2 5 25 2 Saturation deficit depth (water table) Saturation deficit volume Root zone storage Unsaturated soil storage Groundwater storage Canopy Storage Litter Storage % Sat area 1 Rainfall Snowfall Snowpack 75 %SCA 15 1 5 6 4 2 E + T ET+stream Cum snow Cum Snow + rain Transpiration (T) E + T ET + Sublimation 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 3 33 36 Water Year Day 21 2 1 Rain/Snow, mm Snowpack, mm Figure 23: Additional model output used for diagnosis and constraining parameters: saturation deficit, snowpack, snow cover area (SCA), evaporation, transpiration, sublimation, root-zone (RZ), unsaturated zone groundwater (GW), canopy and litter storage. (Bear Trap Creek) 38
Temperature ( o C) 35 25 15 5-5 4 1 8 6 4 2 Relative Humidity (%) Rel Hum Max Temp Avg Temp Min Temp Radiation (MJ m -2 ) 3 2 1 Solar Rad Net Rad 5 4 3 2 1 4 8 12 16 Precipitation (cm) Snow Precipitation 24 36 Wind Speed (m s -1 ) 2 16 12 8 4 Oct Dec Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct Dec Feb Apr Jun Aug 3 24 18 12 6 Wind Direction (Deg) Direction Speed 212 213 Solar Radiation (MJ m -2 ) Temperature ( o C) 35 25 15 5-5 4 3 2 1 5 1 8 6 4 2 Relative Humidity (%) Rel Hum Max Temp Avg Temp Min Temp Solar Rad Net Rad 4 3 2 1 4 8 12 16 Precipitation (cm) Snow Precipitation 24 36 Wind Speed (m s -1 ) 2 16 12 8 4 Oct Dec Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct Dec Feb Apr Jun Aug 3 24 18 12 6 Wind Direction (Deg) Direction Speed 212 213 Figure 24. Daily data collected from the upper (Fresno Dome) and lower (Big Sandy) elevation meteorological stations in the Sugar Pine study area for water years 212-213. 39
Temperature ( o C) 35 25 15 5-5 4 1 8 6 4 2 Relative Humidity (%) Rel Hum Max Temp Avg Temp Min Temp Radiation (MJ m -2 ) 3 2 1 Solar Rad Net Rad 5 4 3 2 1 4 8 12 16 Precipitation (cm) Snow Precipitation 12 36 Wind Speed (m s -1 ) 1 8 6 4 2 Oct Dec Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct Dec Feb Apr Jun Aug 3 24 18 12 6 Wind Direction (Deg) Direction Speed 212 213 Temperature ( o C) 35 25 15 5-5 4 1 8 6 4 2 Relative Humidity (%) Rel Hum Max Temp Avg Temp Min Temp Radiation (MJ m -2 ) 3 2 1 Solar Rad Net Rad 5 4 3 2 1 4 8 12 16 Precipitation (cm) Snow Precipitation 24 36 Wind Speed (m s -1 ) 2 16 12 8 4 Oct Dec Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct Dec Feb Apr Jun Aug 3 24 18 12 6 Wind Direction (Deg) Direction Speed 212 213 Figure 25. Daily data collected from the upper (Duncan Peak) and lower (Bear Trap) elevation meteorological stations in the Sugar Pine study area for water years 212-213. 4
6 5 4 3 2 1 Open DouglasFir.UnderCanopy Duncan Peak Met 6 5 4 3 2 1 Open WesternWhitePine.EdgeCanopy RedFir.UnderCanopy Lodgepole.UnderCanopy Duncan Peak Met 6 5 4 3 2 1 Open Pine.EdgeCanopy Pine.UnderCanopy Bear Trap Met 6 5 4 3 2 1 Pine1.EdgeCanopy Pine1.UnderCanopy Pine2.UnderCanopy Bear Trap Met 6 5 4 3 2 1 Pine.UnderCanopy Frazier Creek 6 5 4 3 2 1 Pine.UnderCanopy Bear Trap Creek 6 5 4 3 2 1 6 5 4 3 2 1 MixedConifer.UnderCanopy1 MixedConifer.UnderCanopy2 St. Dev. Average WYD 29 WYD 211 Bear Trap Creek All Sensors Figure 26. Daily mean snow depth recorded with a total of 16 sensors in 4 different locations incorporating the variable physiographic characteristics of aspect, canopy cover, and elevation that are present in the study area. 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 Water YearDay (WYD) 212 26 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 WYD 213
4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 Open UnderCanopy Open UnderCanopy Open Fir.EdgeCanopy Fir.UnderCanopy Pine.UnderCanopy Open Fir.EdgeCanopy Fir.UnderCanopy Pine.UnderCanopy MixedConifer.UnderCanopy1 MixedConifer.UnderCanopy1 MixedConifer.UnderCanopy2 MixedConifer.UnderCanopy1 MixedConifer.UnderCanopy2 Fresno Dome Met Fresno Dome Met Big Sandy Met Big Sandy Met Speckerman Creek Speckerman Creek Big Sandy Creek 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 MixedConifer.UnderCanopy1 MixedConifer.UnderCanopy2 WYD 29 St. Dev. Average 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 Big Sandy Creek WYD 211 All Sensors 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 Figure 27. Daily mean snow depth for 211-212 from 18 sensors in 4 different locations, covering physiographic characteristics of aspect, slope, elevation, and canopy cover present in the Sugar Pine study area. Water YearDay (WYD) 212 WYD 213 42
Soil Moisture (vwc) Soil Moisture (vwc) Soil Moisture (vwc).6.5.4.3.2.1.8.7.6.5.4.3.2.1.6.5.4.3.2.1 Duncan Peak Met Duncan Peak Met Bear Trap Met Open - 1cm Open - 3cm Open - 6cm West - 1cm West - 3cm West - 6cm West - 9cm East - 1cm East - 3cm East - 6cm South - 1cm South - 3cm South - 6cm South - 9cm Soil Moisture (vwc) Soil Moisture (vwc).6.5.4.3.2.1.6.5.4.3.2.1 Bear Trap Met Bear Trap Creek North - 3cm North - 6cm East - 3cm East - 6cm South - 3cm South - 6cm West - 3cm West - 6cm Open - 3cm Open - 6cm.6 Soil Moisture (vwc).5.4.3.2.1 Bear Trap Creek.6 3 Soil Moisture (vwc).5.4.3.2.1 2 1 Temperature ( o C) 3-cm Soil Moisture 6-cm Soil Moisture Lower 3-cm Soil Temp Lower 3-cm Soil Temp Air Temp. 6 12 18 24 3 36 Water Year Day (WYD) 212 6 12 18 24 3 36 Water Year Day (WYD) 213-1 Figure 28. Soil moisture recorded with 43 sensors in the 4 general study locations. Most sensors were placed at 3- and 6- cm below the surface in a cardinal direction 1 m from the trunk of a tree where snow depth was also measured. A few sensors were placed at different depths for additional observations. The sensors at Duncan Peak exhibited erratic behavior 41 not observed at the other sites, with these time periods removed a limited number of observations were recorded.
Soil Moisture (vwc) Soil Moisture (vwc) Soil Moisture (vwc).6.5.4.3.2.1.6.5.4.3.2.1.6.5.4.3.2.1 Fresno Dome Met Fresno Dome Met Big Sandy Met Figure 29. Daily soil moisture recorded over 212 and 213 with 46 sensors in the 4 Sugar Pine study locations. Sensors were placed at 3- and 6-cm below the surface in a cardinal direction 1-m from the trunk of a tree where snow depth was also measured. The bottom panels show the mean soil moisture and temperature by sensor depth. Soil Moisture (vwc) Soil Moisture (vwc).6.5.4.3.2.1.6.5.4.3.2.1 Big Sandy Met Speckerman Creek North - 3cm North - 6cm East - 3cm East - 6cm South - 3cm South - 6cm West - 3cm West - 6cm Open - 3cm Open - 6cm Soil Moisture (vwc).6.5.4.3.2.1 Speckerman Creek Soil Moisture (vwc).6.5.4.3.2.1 Big Sandy Creek Soil Moisture (vwc).6.5.4.3.2.1 Big Sandy Creek Soil Moisture (vwc).6.5.4.3.2.1. 6 12 18 24 3 36 Water Year Day (WYD) 212 25 2 15 1 5-5 -1 6 12 18 24 3 36 29 Water Year Day (WYD) 213 Temperature ( o C) 3-cm Soil Moisture 6-cm Soil Moisture Lower 3-cm Soil Temp Upper 3-cm Soil Temp Lower 6-cm Soil Temp Upper 6-cm Soil Temp Air Temp
Speckerman Discharge and Precipitation (Westfall) 36 Figure 3. Speckerman Creek water-quality data for WY 212 and WY 213. Water temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and discharge are plotted as 15-minute time-interval data from Speckerman Creek. Air temperature was collected at Big Sandy Met and plotted on a daily time interval. Precipitation data are from the Westfall meteorological station operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Snow depth data are plotted using daily averages and spatial averages of all sensors across the Sugar Pine site. 45
Big Sandy Discharge and Precipitation (Westfall) 36 Figure 31. Big Sandy Creek water-quality data for WY 212 and WY 213. Water temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and discharge are plotted as 15-minute time-interval data from Big Sandy Creek. Air temperature was collected at Big Sandy Met and plotted on a daily time interval. Precipitation data are from the Westfall meteorological station operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Snow depth data are plotted using daily averages and spatial averages of all sensors across the Sugar Pine site. 46
Frazier Discharge and Precipitation (Westfall) Figure 32. Frazier Creek water-quality data for WY 212 and WY 213. Water temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and discharge are plotted as 15-minute time-interval data from Frazier Creek. Air temperature was collected at Bear Trap Met and plotted on a daily time interval. Precipitation data are from the Blue Canyon meteorological station operated by the US Bureau of Reclamation. Snow depth data are plotted using daily averages and spatial averages of all sensors across the Last Chance site. 47
Bear Trap Discharge and Precipitation (Westfall) Figure 33. Bear Trap Creek water-quality data for WY 212 and WY 213. Water temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and discharge are plotted as 15-minute time-interval data from Bear Trap Creek. Air temperature was collected at Bear Trap Met and plotted on a daily time interval. Precipitation data are from the Blue Canyon meteorological station operated by the US Bureau of Reclamation. Snow depth data are plotted using daily averages and spatial averages of all sensors across the Last Chance site. 48
Figure 34. Turbidity, discharge, and precipitation data from Speckermen Creek for the fall rainy season, WY 211. 49
Figure 35. Hysteresis pattern progression seen within a multi-rise discharge event at Big Sandy Creek 5
Figure 36. Major cation and anion data for stream water samples from WY s 21-213. 51
Figure 37. Stable isotopes from stream water samples in all four study catchments for WY s 21 to 213. The local meteoric water line (LMWL) was determined based on snow and stream samples from SNAMP watersheds and from Kings River Experimental Watershed. 52
Figure 38. Water year 212 and 213 discharge data for the Sugar Pine and Last Chance sites. 53
Figure 39. Cumulative discharge plots ta for Sugar Pine (Big Sandy BSN, Speckerman SPK) and Last Chance (Bear Trap BTP, Frazier FRZ) sites. 54
cm 25 2 15 1 Sugar Pine Precipitation Big Sandy Creek Speckerman Creek 5 cm 25 2 15 1 Last Chance Precipitation Bear Trap Creek Frazier Creek 5 6 12 18 24 3 36 6 12 18 24 3 36 6 12 18 24 3 36 6 12 18 24 3 36 WYD 21 WYD 211 WYD 212 WYD 213 Figure 4. Cumulative precipitation and mean discharge for the Sugar Pine and Last Chance sites. Discharge data were collected at the study watersheds. Precipitation data are from the Westfall (Sugar Pine) and Blue Canyon (Last Chance) meteorological stations. 55
2 SWE (cm) Soil Storage (cm) Discharge (cm) 15 1 5 6 5 4 3 2 1 2. 1.5 1..5 St. Dev Mean St. Dev Mean Bear Trap Cr Frazier Cr. 6 12 18 24 3 36 6 12 18 24 3 36 6 12 18 24 3 36 6 12 18 24 3 36 Water Year Day (WYD) 21 WYD 211 WYD 212 WYD 213 2 SWE (cm) Soil Storage (cm) Discharge (cm) 15 1 5 6 5 4 3 2 1 1..8.6.4.2 St. Dev Mean St. Dev Mean Speckerman Cr Big Sandy Cr. 6 12 18 24 3 36 6 12 18 24 3 36 6 12 18 24 3 36 6 12 18 24 3 36 Water Year Day (WYD) 21 WYD 211 WYD 212 WYD 213 Figure 41: Water balance components of daily observed snow, soil moisture, and discharge for Last Chance (top) and Sugar Pine (bottom) for water years 21-213. 56
SWE (cm) Soil Storage (cm) 2 15 1 5 6 5 4 3 2 1 2. St. Dev Mean Model St. Dev Mean Model Discharge (cm) 1.5 1..5 Bear Trap Cr Model. 6 12 18 24 3 36 6 12 18 24 3 36 6 12 18 24 3 36 6 12 18 24 3 36 Water Year Day (WYD) 21 WYD 211 WYD 212 WYD 213 Figure 42: Regional Hydro-Ecological Simulation System (RHESSys) outputs compared to daily observed water balance components of snow, soil moisture, and discharge from Bear Trap Creek. Final parameterization is ongoing and is contingent upon the incorporation of the LiDAR-derived vegetation data that will be available shortly. 57