| The Plynlimon headwater catchments in mid-Wales have been a landmark study of
water resources in the UK uplands for over 30 years. The main physical features of the
catchments have been digitised as the basis for linking new model developments and process
understanding. Examples are given of how the main physical attributes are related to land
management, hydrology and water quality. These data are also being used to provide insights
into catchment processes that may underpin the development of new research. This work is
particularly relevant given the need for the assessment of water status under the
Water Framework Directive. The paper presents hypothetical management scenarios
for the
catchments, to show how ecological status may be improved, for example, by selectively
restructuring areas of commercial forest.
Keywords: Plynlimon, GIS, catchment study, forestry, hydrology, WFD |