2021: Improved Flood Prediction With Better Hydraulic Simulation
Extreme precipitation events are straining the natural hydrologic systems that play a critical role in the natural filtering of drinking water for downstream communities, including New York City. Models that track the flow of precipitation and natural root water uptake by trees are unreliable and, therefore, unable to predict how flooding risks may be altered by the recent die-off of Eastern Hemlock due to invasive pests in the Catskills region. Researchers will build an ecohydrological simulation model that can generate data for the NYC DEP, watershed managers, conservationists, and municipal water providers to accurately depict hydroclimatic trends, tree-specific water uptake data, and other measures of ecosystem health.
Investigators: Taryn Bauerle, Todd Walter, Joe Guinness