RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CATCHMENT ATTRIBUTES AND HYDROLOGICAL RESPONSE CHARACTERISTICS IN SMALL AUSTRALIAN MOUNTAIN ASH CATCHMENTS

Sixteen small catchments in the Maroondah region of Victoria, Australi a were analysed using rainfall, temperature and streamflow time series with a rainfall-runoff model whose parameters efficiently characteriz e the hydrological response of a catchment. A set of catchment attribu tes for each of these catchments was then compared with the associated set of hydrological response characteristics of the catchments as est imated by the model. The time constant governing quickflow recession o f streamflow (tau(q)) was related to the drainage network and catchmen t area. The time constant governing slowflow recession of streamflow ( tau(s)) was related to the slope and shape of the catchment. The param eter governing evapotranspirative losses (f) was related to catchment gradient and vegetative water use. Forestry activities in the catchmen ts changed evapotranspirative losses and thus total volume of streamfl ow, but did not affect the rate of streamflow recession.