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Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest Watershed Vulnerability Assessment, Rocky<br />

Mountain Region (R2)<br />

factor related to the total quantity and intensity of rainfall. The RUSLE R factor is the average<br />

annual product of kinetic energy and maximum 30-minute rainfall intensity. The rainfall factor<br />

was considered to be a stressor. Based on the prediction that storm intensity is likely to increase,<br />

this factor is expected to increase in the future.<br />

5. Runoff potential – percent of subwatershed in Hydrologic Group D. Runoff potential is<br />

determined by soil infiltration capacity after prolonged wetting, permeability, depth to water<br />

table, and depth to restrictive or impervious layer. Soils with the highest potential for runoff are<br />

identified as Hydrologic Group D in soil survey data. Runoff potential was considered to be a<br />

stressor.<br />

6. Waterbodies, riparian and wetland areas – density of these aquatic features within a given<br />

subwatershed. Waterbodies and riparian and wetland areas were considered buffers to runoff<br />

response and the ratings for this factor were given negative values so they would buffer the<br />

combined runoff response ranking.<br />

7. Average annual baseflow – weighted average annual baseflow for each subwatershed. This<br />

value was determined from VIC data (modeled data for historic baseflow at the 6 km-grid scale).<br />

Baseflow is considered a buffer to runoff response and the ratings for this factor were given<br />

negative values so they would buffer the combined runoff response ranking.<br />

Values for each of the individual factors listed above were calculated and standardized for each factor (as<br />

described above for values). The overall runoff response sensitivity ranking was determined by adding the<br />

individual factor standardized ratings together for each subwatershed. The resulting Runoff Sensitivity<br />

Rankings were classified into quartiles. The top 25% were classified 3 (high), middle 50% were classified<br />

2 (moderate), and lowest 25% were classified 1 (low). Figure 22 shows the resulting Erosion Sensitivity<br />

Ranking.<br />

94 Assessing the Vulnerability of Watersheds to Climate Change

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