Changes in vegetative communities and water table dynamics following timber harvesting in small headwater streams

2012 ◽  
Vol 281 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Choi ◽  
J.C. Dewey ◽  
J.A. Hatten ◽  
A.W. Ezell ◽  
Z. Fan
Geosciences ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 253
Author(s):  
Tomáš Galia

Mountain headwater streams are still somewhat on the boundary of interest regarding possible human impact on their morphology or geomorphic processes, which may be caused by our perception of mountains as islands of relatively preserved natural conditions. This paper summarizes the past and present human pressure on the headwater streams that drain the highest mountain ranges of the Outer Western Carpathians in Czechia. Anthropogenic pressure began in this region in the 16th century during a colonization of the mountains and continued by timber harvesting, timber floating, and construction of torrent control works until present. Each of these interventions produced a morphological response of the channels in relation to altered sediment or water fluxes at the whole catchment scale or within longitudinal stream profiles. Because it is highly unlikely to reach pre-settlement conditions of the channels, the management effort should be concentrated to achieve realistic restoration targets under the present socioeconomic circumstances by taking into consideration the morphodynamical specifics of mountain headwater streams.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Derrick Klimesh ◽  
Adrienne V. Gossman ◽  
Y. Jun Xu ◽  
Michael D. Kaller

AbstractForests are the most dominant land-use type in Louisiana, and timber harvesting is the most economically important of the state’s agricultural commodities. Louisiana has developed voluntary best management practices (BMPs) to minimize negative effects of forest operations on stream water quality, but little is known about how aquatic communities inhabiting low-gradient, headwater streams respond to timber harvesting, and if the current BMPs are effective in protecting community structure and function. In 2005, we initiated a multidisciplinary study in the Flat Creek watershed in central Louisiana to discern the effects of timber harvesting activities, with and without BMP implementation, on benthic aquatic macroinvertebrates. During fall 2007, trees were removed adjacent to two headwater streams in the watershed, and benthic macroinvertebrate samples were subsequently collected at seven stream locations seven times between 2006 and 2009. Our objectives were to describe the community structure of benthic macroinvertebrates in low-order, low-gradient streams, how macroinvertebrate communities responded to timber harvest operations, and whether significant changes in community structure were evident under different levels of BMP implementation. The community structure was predominantly generalist taxa including chironomids, sphaeriid bivalves and asellid isopods. Analyses of variance demonstrated significant increases in bivalve abundance and decreases in the abundance of malacostracan and shredding taxa at most of the sampling sites downstream of BMP-implemented harvest locations in the spring. Additionally, significant increases in bivalves were also found at two sites during late summer. Our results suggest that timber harvesting activities, regardless of BMP implementation, had limited shortterm impacts on resident macroinvertebrates in these lowgradient, subtropical streams. Continued monitoring at the study sites will allow us to better understand the longterm effects of timber harvesting in these stream systems, particularly the resilience of stream biota to harvestingrelated stream conditions.


2001 ◽  
Vol 31 (8) ◽  
pp. 1386-1399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Gomi ◽  
Roy C Sidle ◽  
Mason D Bryant ◽  
Richard D Woodsmith

Large woody debris (LWD), fine woody debris (FWD), fine organic debris (FOD), and sediment deposition were measured in 15 steep headwater streams with five management and disturbance regimes. Clear-cut channels logged in 1995 contained large accumulations of logging residue that initially provided sites for sediment storage. Half of the LWD in clear-cut channels was recruited during and immediately after logging. Woody debris from logging activities remains in young growth conifer channels 37 years after logging. Numbers of LWD in clear-cut and young conifer channels were significantly higher than in old-growth channels, although numbers of FWD pieces were not significantly different because of higher recruitment from old-growth stands. Channels that experienced recent (1979 and (or) 1993) and earlier (1961 and (or) 1979) scour and runout of landslides and debris flows contained less LWD and FWD, although large volumes of LWD and FWD were found in deposition zones. The volumes of sediment stored in young alder and recent landslide channels were higher than in the other channels. Because of the recruitment of LWD and FWD from young alder stands, the ratio of sediment stored behind woody debris to total sediment volume was higher in young alder channels compared with recent landslide channels. Numbers of LWD and FWD pieces in all streams were significantly correlated with the volumes of sediment stored behind woody debris. Timber harvesting and soil mass movement influence the recruitment, distribution, and accumulation of woody debris in headwater streams; this modifies sediment storage and transport in headwater channels.


2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 725-737 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Gomi ◽  
Adelaide C Johnson ◽  
Robert L Deal ◽  
Paul E Hennon ◽  
Ewa H Orlikowska ◽  
...  

Factors (riparian stand condition, management regimes, and channel properties) affecting distributions of wood, detritus (leaves and branches), and sediment were examined in headwater streams draining young-growth red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.) – conifer riparian forests (< 40 years old) in southeast Alaska. More riparian red alder were found along streams affected by both timber harvesting and mass movement than in streams affected by timber harvesting alone. Young-growth stands produced little large wood material (diameter ≥10 cm) and had little effect on altering the size distribution of functional large wood in channels, although more alder wood pieces were found in streams with greater numbers of riparian alder trees. Legacy wood pieces (>40 years old) remained in channels and provided sites for sediment and organic matter storage. Despite various alder–conifer mixtures and past harvesting effects, the abundance of large wood, fine wood, and detritus accumulations significantly decreased with increasing channel bank-full width ( 0.5–3.5 m) along relatively short channel distances (up to 700 m). Changes in wood, detritus, and sediment accumulations together with changes in riparian stand characteristics create spatial and temporal variability of in-channel conditions in headwater systems. A component of alder within young-growth riparian forests may benefit both wood production and biological recovery in disturbed headwater stream channels.


1985 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert S. Seymour ◽  
Gordon D. Mott ◽  
Steven M. Kleinschmidt ◽  
Peter Triandafillou ◽  
Robert Keane

Author(s):  
Elon S. Verry ◽  
Arthur E. Elling ◽  
Stephen D. Sebestyen ◽  
Randall K. Kolka ◽  
Richard Kyllander
Keyword(s):  

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