Study sites

The MASCC project will benefit from the mid- to long-term monitoring of catchments acquired in the six Mediterranean countries. Database including rainfall/runoff/erosion, land uses and agricultural practices for all sites has being elaborated during previous projects by the teams participating to MASCC. This database contains about 100 years of continuous monitoring of runoff and erosion in a wide range of contrasted Mediterranean environments. The various study sites are illustrated and briefly described below.

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Study sites

The Roujan/Peyne catchments (FRANCE, 0.91 km² and 75 km²) are located in southern France, in the headwaters of the Hérault river (Southern France). Roujan catchment is monitored since 1992 and is representative of vineyards context. More ... Elevation ranges between 80 and 120m. Climate is sub-humid Mediterranean, mean annual precipitation is 650mm. Land cover is dominated by vineyards (65%) ; fallow and scrubland represent about 25% of the catchment area. Main potential soil conservation practices in this context include permanent sowed grass in inter-rows, terracing and vegetated filter strips.
	The Cannata catchment (ITALY, 1.30 km2) is located in Eastern Sicily, nearby Mount Etna. It is representative of pasture environment and was monitored from 1996 to 2006. Land use is dominated by pasture (90%). More ... Elevation ranges between 903 and 1270m. Climate is Mediterranean semi-arid, mean annual precipitation is 715mm. Main potential soil conservation practices in this context include extensive controlled grazing.
The Saboun/Tleta catchments (MOROCCO, 8 and 177 km² resp.) are located in the foothills of the western Rif mountains, north Morocco and monitored since 1991 and 1977 resp. Land cover is dominated by annual crops and olive trees (55 %), shrubland and forest (25%), pasture (10%). Elevation ranges between 80 and 650m. Main potential soil conservation practices in this context include agro-forestry, reduced tillage, hillslope reservoirs and terracing.
	The Macieira de Alcôba catchment (PORTUGAL, 0.94 km2) is located in the Caramulo mountains, Águeda river basin (North-Central Portugal). Land cover is dominated by commercial forest, pasture and croplands. Data collection ranged from 2010 to 2013. More ... This period includes a rapid land cover evolution from commercial (planted) short-rotation forest to conservation forest as part of the forest burned down in 2011. Elevation ranges between 441 and 620m. Climate is Mediterranean humid, mean annual precipitation is 1300mm. Main potential soil conservation practices in this context focus on post-fire emergency erosion control techniques such as mulching.
The São Lourenço catchment (PORTUGAL, 6.20 km²) is located in the foothills of the Caramulo mountains in the Bairrada wine-producing region. Monitored since 2012, it is representative of vineyards context under humid Mediterranean climate. Rainfall is 925mm. Elevation ranges between 40 to 100m. More ... Slopes are gentle (5%) but strong erosion rates associated with pesticide contamination downstream have been observed in the local vineyards. Today, an general effort to attach an ecological label to the wine is conducted. Other landcover are commercial forests, annual croplands and pastures. Main potential soil conservation in this context practices include permanent cover in inter-rows and organic (test of biochar) amendment.
	The Vallcebre catchments (SPAIN, 0.56 to 4.17 km²) are located on the southern margin of the Pyrenees (North Eastern Spain). Monitored since 1995, they are representative of highly degraded environment including typical badland forms. More ... Other parts of the catchments are occupied by pasture, shrub-lands and forest. Elevation ranges between 1100 and 1650m. Climate is Mediterranean subhumid with a mean annual precipitation of 850mm. Main potential soil conservation practices in this context include terracing restoration and agro-forestry.
The Kamech-Lebna catchments (TUNISIA, 2.63 km² and 210 km² resp.) are located in the Cap Bon (North-Eastern Tunisia). Kamech is monitored since 1994 at the outlet (1987 for Lebna) with additional intermediate nested stations since 2005. More ... Land cover is dominated by annual crops (70%). Elevation ranges from 80 to 190m for kamech and from 40 to 700m for Lebna. Climate is between Mediterranean semiarid and sub-humid, with annual precipitation ranging from 450mm to 850mm. Main potential soil conservation practices in this context include terracing, agroforestry, hillslope reservoirs and organic amendment.