Seasonal Streamflow Reconstructions of the Choctawhatchee River (AL-USA)

Abstract:

Tree ring samples were collected from Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) species in watersheds adjacent to the Choctawhatchee River (Alabama and Florida - USA). These samples were collected to update an existing tree ring proxy that was developed in the late 1980's and early 1990's (Stahle and Cleaveland, 1992, IGBP PAGES/World Data Center for Paleoclimatology Data Contribution # FL001, Choctawhatchee River. NOAA/NCDC Paleoclimatology Program, Boulder, Colorado, USA). The motivation for updating the tree ring proxy was to determine if recent droughts identified in historic unimpaired Choctawhatchee River streamflow records were reflected in Bald Cypress tree ring growth. Historic streamflow from 1934 to 2013 was obtained for the USGS station at Newton, Alabama and one, five and ten-year droughts were identified and ranked. Many of the most severe droughts were identified in recent (~2000 to present) records (see Figure). Combining the new tree ring proxy with other regional proxies, seasonal streamflow was reconstructed for the Choctawhatchee River Newton, Alabama gage. The reconstructed streamflow allows water managers and planners to observe past wet and dry periods that may exceed magnitude, duration and/or severity of wet and dry periods in observed records.