Hydrological Consequences of Converting Forestland to Coffee Plantations and Other Agriculture Crops on Sumber Jaya Watershed, West Lampung, Indonesia

Sumber Jaya (54,194 hectares) is a district in West Lampung, Indonesia, located at the upper part of Tulang Bawang watershed. This watershed is one major water resource for Lampung Province, but has become a focal point of discussion because of the widespread conversion of forestland to coffee plantations and human settlements which lead to environmental and hydrological problems. This research aimed to evaluate Sumber Jaya watershed affecting by rapid land use change using hydrological methods as a base for watershed management. Nested catchment structure consisted of eight sub-catchments was employed in this research to assess scaling issues of land use change impacts on rainfall-runoff connections. Six tipping bucket rain gages were installed on the hill slopes of each sub-catchment and Parshall flumes were installed at the outlets of each sub-catchment to monitor stream flow. First, unit hydrograph that expressed the relationship of rainfall and runoff was computed using IHACRES model. Second, unit hydrograph was also constructed from observations of input and response during several significant storms with approximately equal duration. The result showed that most of the storm flow from these catchments consisted of slow flow. A maximum of about 50% of the effective rainfall became quick flow, and only less than 10% of remaining effective rainfall which was routed as slow flow contributed to hydrograph peaks; the rest was stored. Also, comparing peak responses and recession rates on the hydrograph, storm flow discharge was generally increased slowly on the rising limb and decreased rapidly on the falling limb. These responses indicated the soils in these catchments were still able to hold and store rain water.