Burned Area Emergency Response Tools

Watershed Response Model for Forest Management (WATBAL)

WATBAL has been used by 2% of the BAER team members in Region 1 (Foltz and others 2008). The WATBAL program is designed to simulate the potential and most likely effects of primary forest management practices (e.g., timber harvest, road development, and fire) on the responses of watershed and water resources systems with regard to stream flow and sediment regimes (Jones 2005).

To use WATBAL, you will need WATBAL Program.

Advantages

The following were advantages to applying the WATBAL for post-fire runoff and erosion estimation. WATBAL:

• is applicable for estimating stream flow and sediment regime effects of forest management practices; and
• is believed to be relatively accurate based on contiuous Clearwater National Forest monitoring.

Disadvantages

The following were disadvantages to applying the WATBAL for post-fire runoff and erosion estimation. WATBAL:

• is only applicable to Central and Northern Rocky Mountains;
• does not consider post-fire debris flow/torrent;
• works best in watersheds of 4-40 mi²;
• is not user-friendly;
• requires an understanding of the program; and
• uses only English units.

Example Results

The 2000 Crooked Fire in the Clearwater National Forest, Idaho.

REFERENCES

Foltz, Randy B.; Robichaud, Peter R.; Rhee, Hakjun. 2008. A synthesis of post-fire road treatments for BAER teams: methods, treatment effectiveness, and decision-making tools for rehabilitation. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station (in preparation).

Jones, Richard. 2005. Watershed response model for forest management: WATBAL technical users guide, revised. Orofino, ID: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Region, Clearwater National Forest. 36 p.

USDA Forest Service - RMRS - Moscow Forestry Sciences Laboratory
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