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.