Forest water protective effectiveness

Flood prevention in mountains : 

EU workshop INFRA 34671 Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine 03 February 2010 © Svetoslav P. Apostolov Measures for promotion of forest water protective effectiveness Flood prevention in mountains

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© Svetoslav P. Apostolov, 2010 All rights reserved. Reproduction is authorised under the Use Agreement terms and conditions.

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Presentation Outlines The Basic Unsustainable Forestry Practices What to do?  Conclusions

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The Basic Forests retain water, thus moderating or even preventing floods.

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The Basic Forests are vital to the water cycle and to water quality: transpire water; recharge groundwater aquifers; purify water. Source: Impacts of forest management on water quality (Schoenholtz, 2004) Hydrologic cycle for a forest.

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The Basic Source: Impacts of forest management on water quality (Schoenholtz, 2004) Undisturbed forested watersheds provide water of the highest quality: drinking; aquatic habitat; recreation.

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The Basic Main natural and anthropogenic factors threatening the protective function of the forests: climate change; disasters (wildfire, earthquake, hurricane, flood, landslide, etc); unsustainable use; land-use change. The relationship between forest ecosystems and quality of the associated surface and groundwater is a key component of sustainable forest management designed to, inter alia, protect the high quality of water.

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Presentation Outlines The Basic Unsustainable Forestry Practices What to do?  Conclusions

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Logging with improper erosion control leads to increased level of suspended sediments: degraded water quality (drinking); degraded habitat quality; detract from recreational values; decreased stream depth; filled pools in the stream channel; increased stream width. Intensive logging leads to increased nutrient export: increased runoff; less nutrient uptake by vegetation; decomposition of the logging slash. Source: Impacts of forest management on water quality (Schoenholtz, 2004) Improperly designed logging road. Most common effects of unsustainable forestry practices

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Machinery: ground-based logging systems – inexpensive, significant forest floor disturbance -> increased sediment delivery to streams: crawler tractor; wheeled skidder. cable logging systems – expensive, less forest floor disturbance -> less sediment delivery to streams; helicopter logging systems – most expensive (often prohibitively), the least soil disturbance -> minimum sediment delivery to streams. Crawler tractor. Most common effects of unsustainable forestry practices Wheeled skidder. Cable logging system. Helicopter logging. Growing damage and disturbance severity.

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Most common effects of unsustainable forestry practices Prescribed fire: low-severity fires (organic layer of the forest floor not completely removed) often do not cause significant increases in erosion and sedimentation. severe fires (organic layer of the forest floor removed -> mineral soil exposed to direct raindrop impact) cause increased erosion and sedimentation, and significant nutrient loss to streams. Source: Impacts of forest management on water quality (Schoenholtz, 2004) Surface erosion following a severe forest fire.

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Most common effects of unsustainable forestry practices Fire lines (control the spread of fire) – if improperly planned and/or established under emergency circumstances, accelerated erosion and sedimentation may result. Improper road construction that disrupts drainage patterns leads to landslides and debris flows. Clearing of riparian vegetation can cause elevated stream temperature (as much as 15°C have been observed in forest streams) -> less dissolved oxygen available for aquatic organisms.

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Most common effects of unsustainable forestry practices Fertilization causes increased nutrient (mostly N, less P) concentration in the stream. Pesticides can cause water quality degradation and potential impacts on stream biota. Recreational facilities (ski resorts, vacation houses, camping sites) near lakes or streams with inadequate provisions for solid waste disposal and/or wastewater treatment can cause pollution.

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Presentation Outlines The Basic Unsustainable Forestry Practices What to do?  Conclusions

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What to do? Minimize stream sedimentation: plan properly the road and skid trail networks: locate the road far from streams; limit the road gradient (usually < 10%); design road layouts and drainage installations to avoid runoff channelling; avoid stream crossing. surface the road with gravel; use the least damaging logging machinery; leave uncut strips along streams; re-vegetate disturbed surfaces immediately when no longer required for access (within 1-5 years from re-vegetation, concentrations of suspended sediment return to pre-harvest levels); use technical control measures to reduce runoff.

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What to do? Prevent landslides by stabilizing threatened areas: technical control measures: divert surface runoff; reinforce steep slopes; form terraces. vegetate the area at risk. Avoid temperature increase: maintain shade in riparian zones by retention of riparian buffers. Limit (if possible – avoid) the use of fertilizers and pesticides, use biological control methods. Provide adequate solid waste disposal and/or wastewater treatment to recreational facilities near lakes or streams.

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What to do? Convert marginal farmland to forest: afforestation; abandonment of the farmland. Source: Impacts of forest management on water quality (Schoenholtz, 2004) Cumulative sediment yields from White Hollow Watershed, Tennessee, USA, before and after reforestation.

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Presentation Outlines The Basic Conclusions Unsustainable Forestry Practices What to do? 

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Conclusions The water quality of streams in forested areas is very much affected by the forestry practices. Unsustainable practices can cause significant deterioration of the water quality. Water quality deterioration in the forested basins may result in deteriorated drinking water quality, habitat degradation and loss of the recreational value of an area. Forest activities can be designed to protect or enhance water bodies. Regular water monitoring is needed to provide information on the status of the watershed and give feedback to the forester. Other types of monitoring (e.g., of aquatic organisms) may be desirable. The forester’s role is crucial in protecting the forest aquatic environment!

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