An exceptional rainfall and hydrological event occurred on 19-21 October 2012 in the central western Pyrenees and was particularly significant in the Upper Aragón River basin and its tributaries, mainly the Irati River. Analysis of historical records showed that, considered separately, the event of 19 and 20 October ranked between the second and fifth highest most extreme daily precipitation events. For the two days combined (with a total between 200 and 260 mm), the precipitation event was the most extreme 2-day event among all observation stations but one. The consequent flood destroyed part of an urban area, and a long stretch of a national road triggered landslides, enlarged the alluvial plain and caused generalised soil erosion in cultivated fields cropped with winter cereals. Badlands in the marls of the Inner Depression yielded high volumes of sediment. The floods in the tributaries were relatively moderate (return periods of 14-42 years), whereas in the Upper Aragón River, the flood corresponded to a return period of approximately 400-500 years and to 142 years at the end of the Yesa reservoir, although difficulties in estimating the discharge increased the uncertainty of these values. The Yesa and Itoiz reservoirs considerably reduced the intensity of the flood in the middle and lower Aragón River and confirmed the importance of the water level in the reservoirs when such rainfall events occur. The water storage in the Yesa reservoir increased from 16% to 53% as a consequence of the event. More integrated studies are necessary to decrease the risks associated with flood hazards. This is particularly the case in mountain areas, where the steep slopes and longitudinal gradients of the rivers shorten the concentration time of floods and increase the energy that erodes channels and riverbanks.
Channel changes are the consequence of changes in sediment yield from the slopes and in the connectivity between slopes and channels because of distinct land use and climate impacts. In this study, we investigated the characteristics and evolution of a short reach in the headwater of the Ijnez River, central-southern Pyrenees. Assessment of a series of sedimentary and geomorphic structures confirmed major changes to the valley bottom, mainly related to changes in the intensity of human activity. The oldest sedimentary structure is a terrace level located 3 to 4 m above the current alluvia] plain. General deforestation, overgrazing and recurring fires in the montane belt (1100-1600 m a.s.1.) have led to increased soil erosion and connectivity, and to the triggering of debris flows that have been deposited on the fluvial terrace. Woody fragments from within the debris flows were dated using accelerator mass spectrometry "C radiocarbon techniques (AMS), yielding ages between 100 and 115cal years BP, which coincides with the period of maximum deforestation and human density in the Pyrenees. Depopulation and farmland abandonment since the beginning of the 20th century has resulted in generalized natural and artificial reforestation, a shrinkage of the eroded areas and a decline in connectivity between slopes and the channel. The most important consequence has been channel incision and narrowing, and the development of a sediment armour layer. Active sediment transport is continuing, although there has been a decrease in sediment yield from the slopes.
The effects of afforestation on water resources are still controversial. The aim of this paper is to (i) analyse the hydrological response of an afforested area in the Central Pyrenees and (ii) compare the hydrological response of an afforested area with the response observed in a natural undisturbed forest. The Araguás catchment was cultivated until the 1950s, and then afforested with pines in an effort to control the active degradation processes. The hydrological response was variable and complex, because the discharge was generated by a combination of distinct runoff processes. The hydrological response showed that (i) afforestation produced moderate peak discharges, stormflows and recession limbs, and long rising limbs; (ii) no one single variable was able to explain the hydrological response: rainfall volume and intensity did not explain the hydrological response and antecedent rainfall and initial discharge (indicating antecedent moisture conditions) did play an important role; (iii) seasonal differences were observed suggesting different runoff generating processes; and (iv) the effect of forest cover on peak discharges became less important as the size of the hydrological event increased. The stormflow coefficient showed a clear seasonal pattern with an alternation between a wet period, when the catchment was hydrologically responsive, and a dry summer period when the catchment rarely responded to any event, and two transitional periods (wetting and drying). Compared with a natural forest, the afforested area recorded greater flows and peak discharges, faster response times and shorter recession limbs. Afforestation reduces the water yield and the number of floods compared with non-vegetated areas and abandoned lands. Figure 10. Seasonal average and standard deviation of rainfall depth (A) and maximum rainfall intensity (B) during flood events recorded in the Afforestation and San Salvador catchment 2729 HYDROLOGICAL RESPONSE OF AN AFFORESTED AREA IN MEDITERRANEAN MOUNTAIN
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