33 JEM — VOLUME 9, NUMBER 3 MOUNTAIN PINE BEETLE CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS MOUNTAIN PINE BEETLE AND WATERSHED HYDROLOGY JEM — VOLUME 9, NUMBER 3 Redding, T., R. Winkler, P. Teti, D. Spittlehouse, S. Boon, J. Rex, S. Dubé, R.D. Moore, A. Wei, M. Carver, M. Schnorbus, L. Reese-Hansen, and S. Chatwin. 2008. Mountain pine beetle and watershed hydrology. In Mountain Pine Beetle: From Lessons Learned to Community-based Solutions Conference Proceedings, June 10–11, 2008. BC Journal of Ecosystems and Management 9(3):33–50. url: http://www.forrex.org/publications/jem/ISS49/vol9_no3_MPBconference.pdf Published by FORREX Forum for Research and Extension in Natural Resources Thematic Session Synthesis Mountain pine beetle and watershed hydrology Todd Redding 1 , Rita Winkler 2 , Pat Teti 3 , Dave Spittlehouse 4 , Sarah Boon 5 , John Rex 6 , Stephane Dubé 7 , R.D. Moore 8 , Adam Wei 9 , Martin Carver 10 , Markus Schnorbus 11 , Lars Reese-Hansen 12 , and Steve Chatwin 13 Abstract Changes to British Columbia’s lodgepole pine forests due to the mountain pine beetle (mpb) outbreak will affect stand water balances, hillslope hydrology, and streamflow in many watersheds. e magnitude of this disturbance has prompted a range of research at both stand and watershed scales to address uncertainty about the hydrologic effects of mpb, such as an increased potential for flooding; changes in water yield, peak flows, and low flows; slope and channel changes associated with increased runoff, as well as the effects of hydrologic change on aquatic habitat and drinking water. is paper summarizes the key hydrologic changes expected. It also highlights the results of research currently under way throughout the British Columbia Interior and other regions to quantify changes in hydrologic processes and potential effects at the stand and watershed scales of mpb-related stand mortality and salvage harvesting. General forest planning recommendations and sources of further information are provided. keywords: hydrology, mountain pine beetle, salvage harvesting, streamflow, watershed management. Contact Information 1 Watershed Management Extension Specialist, Forrex, 527 Duke Street, Nanaimo, BC V9R 1K2. Email: todd.redding@forrex.org 2 Research Hydrologist, B.C. Ministry of Forests and Range. Email: Rita.Winkler@gov.bc.ca 3 Research Hydrologist, B.C. Ministry of Forests and Range. Email: Pat.Teti@gov.bc.ca 4 Research Climatologist, B.C. Ministry of Forests and Range. Email: Dave.Spittlehouse@gov.bc.ca 5 Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, University of Lethbridge. Email: sarah.boon@uleth.ca 6 Research Hydrologist, B.C. Ministry of Forests and Range. Email: John.Rex@gov.bc.ca 7 Research Soil Scientist, B.C. Ministry of Forests and Range. Email: Stephane.Dube@gov.bc.ca 8 Forest Renewal BC Chair of Forest Hydrology, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia. Email: rdmoore@geog.ubc.ca 9 Associate Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, UBC Okanagan. Email: adam.wei@ubc.ca 10 A/Director, Water Group, Health Protection, B.C. Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport. Email: Martin.Carver@ gov.bc.ca 11 Hydrologic Modelling Scientist, B.C. Ministry of Environment. Email: Markus.Schnorbus@gov.bc.ca 12 Fisheries Sensitive Watershed Biologist, B.C. Ministry of Environment. Email: Lars.ReeseHansen@gov.bc.ca 13 Special Projects Manager, Forest Practices Board. Email: Steve.Chatwin@gov.bc.ca