The Pachitea Watershed Project constitutes the Peruvian component of the Andean Amazon Rivers and Analysis (AARAM) project. The project was initiated in 1998 through the support of the Initial Science Program (ISP III) of IAI and represents a collaborative research effort among seven universities in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, and the United States. It also includes the active participation of the Peruvian National Meteorological and Hydrological Service (SENAMHI), the French Institute of Scientific Research for Development in Cooperation (ORSTOM), and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). It’s main objective is to develop the detailed scientific understanding of central Andean riverine ecosystems that is fundamental to the successful implementation of regional and international programs for integrated water resources management. The project is composed of three research phases and a main capacity building component.
1 - Characterization of land cover and land use: Runoff and its chemical load vary in response to landscape characteristics like vegetation type, soil type and structure. These characteristics, in turn, vary as a function of land cover and land use. In order to assess the influence of variable landscape processes across large-scale catchments, one must develop geographically registered datasets of key basin characteristics. This is currently being done in the Pachitea through the analysis of 1996 Landsat TM images The results of this spatial analysis will guide the subsequent field activities of the project.
2 - Field Studies: The transfer of terrestrial biogeochemical imprints to river systems is strongly regulated by biophysical processes operating at the interface of land and water. We are establishing two field plots to quantify the transfer of water and chemical compounds from land to river and also to elucidate the main processes regulating these transfers. Simultaneously, we are mounting river sampling expeditions to quantify the spatial variability of river flows and water quality in relation to differing land cover and land use and in relation to differing longitudinal position within the river system.
3 - Modeling: In order to integrate the diverse data generated in this project into a coherent and quantitative understanding which can be applied to management goals, we are developing a spatially-distribute deterministic model. We are beginning with the Soil and Water Integrated Model (SWIM) developed by colleagues at the Potsdam Institute of Climate Impact Research. As our fieldwork continues, we will continuously update the SWIM model to calibrate it to conditions in the Andean Amazon.
4 - Capacity building: Although the work for this project is being carried in Peru, it serves as an initial regional training effort for students from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. During 1998, five students will begin M.Sc. courses and thesis work at the Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina (UNALM) in Lima, on Amazon Hydrology (3) and Biogeochemistry (2). They will develop topics central to the project goals in the Pachitea watershed.