The Place of Catchment Hydrology and Productivity in Catchment Stability

Land use, particularly as defined by the type of vegetation, is instrumental in determining the quantity and race of stream discharge from a catchment. Three small catchment in the New England region of New South Wales, similar in all respects except land use, were selected to investigate the effect that the productivity of vegetation growing on a catchment has on catchment hydrology and, indirectly, erosion. The data show that both the foliage and roots of vegetation are important in attenuating catchment discharge and commensurately increasing infiltration. Catchment slope, surface roughness and drainage density also influence streamflow. The importance of these factors in ensuring adequate supplies of farm water and averting soil erosion is discussed.