Impacts of changing forest disturbance and climate on streamflow in the Colorado River basin, U.S.A.


The Colorado River basin is one of the most important freshwater resources in the US. Our work details 
hydrologic responses to changes in vegetation mortality across the region due to forest fires, infestations, 
and heat-stress using a scenario-based approach to estimate forest disturbances. Scenarios include static 
vegetation reductions, a dynamic reduction over time in forest cover compositions based on three global 
climate models and one emission scenario, and a dynamic reduction over time based on recently released 
forest mortality projections from a number of cutting-edge dynamic vegetation models. Results will be 
discussed for both extreme events and mean changes in streamflow, and water balance parameters.