Can the Stream Quantification Tool (SQT) Protocol Predict the Biotic Condition of Streams in the Southeast Piedmont (USA)?

In some states, the Stream Quantification Tool (SQT) has been adopted to quantify functional change of stream mitigation efforts. However, the ability of the SQT protocol to predict biological function and uphold the premise of the Stream Functions Pyramid (Pyramid) remains untested. Macroinvertebrate community metrics in 34 headwater streams in Piedmont, North Carolina (NC, USA) were related to NC SQT protocol (version 3.0) factors and other variables relevant to ecological function. Three statistical models, including stepwise, lasso, and ridge regression were used to predict the NC Biotic Index (NCBI) and Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) richness using two datasets: 21 SQT variables and the SQT variables plus 13 additional watershed, hydraulic, geomorphic, and physicochemical variables. Cross-validation revealed that stepwise and ridge outperformed lasso, and that the SQT variables can reasonably predict biology metrics (R2 0.53–0.64). Additional variables improved prediction (R2 0.70–0.88), suggesting that the SQT protocol is lacking metrics important to macroinvertebrates. Results moderately support the Pyramid: highly predictive ridge models included metrics from all levels, while highly predictive stepwise models included metrics from higher levels, and not watershed hydrology. Reach-scale metrics were more important than watershed hydrology, providing encouragement for projects limited by watershed condition.

KESEDIAAN MASYARAKAT MENERIMA PEMBAYARAN JASA LINGKUNGAN AIR: KASUS DAS WAY SEMAKA KABUPATEN TANGGAMUS

ABSTRAKPembayaran jasa lingkungan (PJL) merupakan salah satu skema pemberian insentif dalam upaya mencegah kerusakan hulu Daerah Aliran Sungai (DAS) Way Semaka di Kawasan Hutan Lindung Register 19. Kerusakan hulu DAS ini menyebabkan pasokan air yang dimanfaatkan oleh pengguna air di daerah hilir terganggu. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis kesediaan masyarakat menerima (willingness to accept/WTA) atas pembayaran jasa lingkungan air. Data dianalisis secara kuantitatif terhadap 30 orang sampel responden masyarakat sekitar Hutan Lindung Register 39. Pengambilan sampel dilakukan secara acak. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa semua responden bersedia dibayar atas upaya konservasi DAS melalui penanaman dan pemeliharaan pohon dalam kawasan hutan yaitu rata-rata Rp14.000 per pohon. Hal ini didasarkan oleh pengorbanan yang dikeluarkan responden dari segi waktu, biaya dan tenaga dalam upaya konservasi tersebut. Penerapan PJL ini perlu dukungan Pemerintah dalam hal ini Kesatuan Pengelolaan Hutan Lindung (KPHL) Kotaagung Utara selaku pengelola di tingkat tapak agar memfasilitasi terselenggaranya mekanisme PJL hulu-hilir di sekitar kawasan hutan lindung sebagai salah satu solusi perbaikan hulu DAS Way Semaka. Kata kunci: pembayaran jasa lingkungan; DAS Way Semaka; Willingness to Accept; hutan lindung ABSTRACTPayment of environmental services (PES) is one of the mechanisms considered to be able to solve the hydrological problem in Way Semaka Watershed (DAS) which is one of the watersheds used by the downstream community for daily necessities and agricultural business. Currently, Way Semaka Watershed condition is physically damaged one of them because the protected forest area surrounding the watershed is damaged. Whereas protected forests play a very important role in regulating the water system, prevent erosion, produce oxygen and so on. This study aims to analyze the willingness to accept community (WTA) around protected forest area register 39 upstream through PES mechanism in order to restore downstream watershed condition. Samples were taken as many as 30 community respondents around the forest register 39 at random. Data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. The results showed that all respondents were willing to be paid for planting and maintaining trees in forest areas. The estimated average WTA value is Rp 14,000 per tree. According to the respondents, the willingness to accept this community must take into account the time, cost and energy in planting and maintaining the tree, especially the topography condition of the forest area is relatively flat. Therefore, the government in this case Protection Forest Management Unit (KPHL) Kotaagung Utara need to support the implementation of mechanisms PES in the area around the Way Semaka Watershed in order to solve the problem of hydrology and the welfare of the community around the protected forest by acting as facilitator to the downstream user community.Keywords: Payment of environmental services; protected forest area; Way Semaka Watershed; Willingness to Accept

Sustainable Soil Conservation Plan Based on the Erosion Danger Level by using Avswat 2000

This research conducted on the Catur sub-watershed-Kare District with the area of 190.85 km2 . The study location is oriented on the Kare District-Madiun Regency which included four villages such as the Kepel, Kuwiran, Kare, and the Bodag. This research intended to study the value of erosion and sedimentation for analyzing the Erosion Danger Level (TBE). Result of the TBE analysis can be used as the base on determining the Village Soil Conservation Plan (RKTD) in the Kare District. The pparameters of the Catur sub-watershed condition during the 10 years will be processed by using the AVSWAT 2000 for producing the value of erosian and sedimentation on the Catur sub-watershed. Result shows that the Erosion Danger Level (TBE) in the Bodag village is in the level of light to heavy (21.89%), however, in the Kuwiran village is in the level of light to heavy (14.46%), in the Kepel village is in the level of light to moderate (22.23%), and in the Kare village is in the level of light to moderate (41.31%). The Village Land Conservation Plan that is applied in the Kare sub-district are conservation by the vegetative and mechanical method, however, in the Bodag village and Kuwiran by the vegetative conservation method with the regulation of land use, in the Kare village by the vegetative and mechanical conservation method with the regulation of land use and by building the two check dams, and in the Kepel village by the mechanical conservation method with building a check dam. The result is hoped as the reference for the recovery and management of the sustainable soil conservation.

Stream’s regime coefficient in upstream Rokan watershed of Riau Province

Flood disaster in Rokan Hulu Regency often occurs every year. High streamflow conditions during rainy season as one of the causes of the flood. Stream’s Regime Coefficient (KRS) is the ratio of maximum and minimum discharge in a watershed that shows the watershed condition. The higher KRS means the worse the watershed condition. The study areas are located in the upstream Rokan watershed. Upstream Rokan watershed with the AWLR (Automatic Water Level Recorder) Lubuk Bendahara and Pasir Pangaraian in Riau Province were picked up as study area of this research. The results show the indicator of stream’s regime coefficient at Lubuk Bendahara AWLR valued 217.45 which placed on poor class and the indicator of stream’s regime coefficient at Pasir Pangaraian AWLR valued 38.25 which placed on good class.