Re della Pietra
experimental catchment
The catchment is managed by the Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry Main Lab, at the University of Florence, Italy, and supported by national and international projects and collaborations.
The Re della Pietra catchment is an experimental site for hydrological, ecohydrological, and ecophysiological research in a mountain Mediterranean environment.
The catchment (2 km2) is located in the Tuscan Apennines, Central Italy. The area is managed by the local Forest Service and belongs to the International Model Forest network.
It is a rain-dominated catchment with an average annual precipitation of approximately 1300 mm (1992-2022). The climate is Mediterranean and is characterized by a wet period (November-May) and a dry period (June-October). Average monthly temperatures vary from 2 °C in January to 20 °C in August, and the average annual temperature is 10.5 °C. Elevations range from 634 m to 1320 m asl, the average slope (from headwater to outlet) is 27.5°.
​
The geology consists of sandstones corresponding to the Late Oligocene – Early Miocene Macigno Formation. The soil is well drained, typically deeper than 50 cm and has an overall sandy-loam texture. The catchment area is predominantly covered by forests (>95%), which consist of beech trees (Fagus sylvatica), oaks (Quercus cerris) and conifers (Pseudotsuga menziesii and Pinus nigra).