Final answer:
Watershed management practices, such as maintaining forest cover, can mitigate flooding to some extent, but it's unlikely they could substantially dampen large-scale flood events like the 2013 Calgary flood. The correct option is b.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that watershed land management practices substantially dampened the effects of the 2013 Calgary flood is false. Watershed management, including vegetation cover like trees, can play a significant role in flood mitigation by intercepting rainfall, enhancing soil absorption, and reducing runoff.
However, studies like those by Calder and Aylward (2006) suggest that the connection between forest cover and flood reduction is complex. While native forests can reduce flood risks at smaller scales, afforestation programs or non-native plantations might not yield the same results and could even exacerbate flooding.
It's important to recognize that the benefits of forests on flood mitigation have limits, and other factors such as weather patterns, urban infrastructure, and terrain also significantly influence flood impact.
Hence, Option b is correct.