Environmental Sustainability

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Processes that control water release (runoff) from headwater catchments are vital factors in the function, sensitivity and vulnerability of ecosystems to human and climate-induced environmental change. This research program will evaluate such processes within natural and reconstructed catchments by: 1) evaluating the role of wetland-dominated headwater catchments on downstream water availability 2) establishing the influence of transient, event-based connections on water movement among forests, wetlands and watercourses 3) applying this knowledge to manage freshwater availability in catchments reclaimed after resource extraction. Research results will protect drinking water quality and fish and wildlife habitat, as a critical advance in understanding ecosystem susceptibility to disturbance.