Drier forest composition associated with hydrologic change in the Apalachicola River floodplain, Florida

Darst, Melanie R.; Light, Helen M.

doi:10.3133/sir20085062

Cited by 26 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Of primary concern are (i) the transition from bald cypress fl oodplain swamp to mangrove-dominated communities in the tidal fl oodplain as salinity increased and (ii) inadequate hydroperiod in the upstream riverine fl oodplain, which has shifted the system toward drier plant communities (SFWMD, 2009). Similar changes in the composition of fl oodplain vegetation as a result of reduced fl ooding frequency have been observed regionally and globally (e.g., Darst and Light, 2008;Leyer, 2005).…”

Section: Site Descriptionsupporting

confidence: 68%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Linking River, Floodplain, and Vadose Zone Hydrology to Improve Restoration of a Coastal River Affected by Saltwater Intrusion

et al. 2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Floodplain forests provide unique ecological structure and function, which are often degraded or lost when watershed hydrology is modified. Restoration of damaged ecosystems requires an understanding of surface water, groundwater, and vadose (unsaturated) zone hydrology in the floodplain. Soil moisture and porewater salinity are of particular importance for seed germination and seedling survival in systems affected by saltwater intrusion but are difficult to monitor and often overlooked. This study contributes to the understanding of floodplain hydrology in one of the last bald cypress [Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich.] floodplain swamps in southeast Florida. We investigated soil moisture and porewater salinity dynamics in the floodplain of the Loxahatchee River, where reduced freshwater flow has led to saltwater intrusion and a transition to salt-tolerant, mangrove-dominated communities. Twenty-four dielectric probes measuring soil moisture and porewater salinity every 30 min were installed along two transects-one in an upstream, freshwater location and one in a downstream tidal area. Complemented by surface water, groundwater, and meteorological data, these unique 4-yr datasets quantified the spatial variability and temporal dynamics of vadose zone hydrology. Results showed that soil moisture can be closely predicted based on river stage and topographic elevation (overall Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient of efficiency = 0.83). Porewater salinity rarely exceeded tolerance thresholds (0.3125 S m(-1)) for bald cypress upstream but did so in some downstream areas. This provided an explanation for observed vegetation changes that both surface water and groundwater salinity failed to explain. The results offer a methodological and analytical framework for floodplain monitoring in locations where restoration success depends on vadose zone hydrology and provide relationships for evaluating proposed restoration and management scenarios for the Loxahatchee River.

show abstract

Section: Site Descriptionsupporting

confidence: 68%

“…Along with water tupelo ( Nyssa aquatica L.) and swamp tupelo ( Nyssa biflora Walter), bald cypress is a dominant tree species in the riverine and coastal floodplains of the southeast (Day et al, 2006; Allen et al, 1994). Cypress seeds settle along drift lines after floodwaters recede and require moist but not flooded conditions to germinate (Middleton, 2000).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking River, Floodplain, and Vadose Zone Hydrology to Improve Restoration of a Coastal River Affected by Saltwater Intrusion

et al. 2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Levees, channelization, and dam regulation have greatly altered river flow patterns (Conner and Sharitz 2005). In many cases, bottomland forests do not flood as often or as long as they once did, altering communities in favor of driersite species (Darst and Light 2008). In other cases, sites flood more often and for more prolonged periods than previously, reducing stand regeneration potential.…”

Section: Managing Disturbance Regimesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Old Forests and Endangered Woodpeckers: Old-Growth in the Southern Coastal Plain

Mitchell

Engstrom

Sharitz

et al. 2009

Natural Areas Journal

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Similar changes in the composition of floodplain vegetation as a result of reduced flooding frequency and saltwater intrusion have been observed regionally and globally (e.g. Mulrennana and Woodroffe, ; Leyer, ; Darst and Light, ).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling Evaluation of Dam Removal in the Context of River Ecosystem Restoration

2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Applications of environmental models may provide imperative information to enable informed decision‐making of river management actions, which are often made in the face of high system complexity and uncertainty. We applied Hydrologic Engineering Centers River Analysis System(HEC‐RAS) and Curvilinear Hydrodynamics Three‐Dimensional (CH3D) models to aid in the decision‐making of the proposed removal of the Masten Dam, a small, ‘run‐of‐the‐river’ dam on the Loxahatchee River, a federally designated ‘Wild and Scenic River’ in south‐east coast of Florida (USA). Anthropogenic alteration of the system has led to changing hydroperiods and salinity regimes in the floodplain. Both models are calibrated against measured data taken at varying temporal and spatial scales. The HEC‐RAS modelling results show that removal of the Masten Dam would lower water levels in the upstream riverine reach, leading to reduced soil moisture or inundation in the floodplain. The CH3D modelling results indicate that dam removal would increase river salinity during the dry season in the tidal reach where salinity compliance for environmental flow regulation is measured. These environmental changes would exert additional stress on freshwater vegetation communities in the floodplain. Given the scarcity of water resources in the region, removal of the Masten Dam would not offer an effective restoration strategy. This study demonstrates not only the need for evaluation of dam removal on a case‐by‐case basis but also the usefulness of environmental models in providing the technical basis for such management decisions. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

show abstract

Drier forest composition associated with hydrologic change in the Apalachicola River floodplain, Florida

Cited by 26 publications

References 0 publications

Linking River, Floodplain, and Vadose Zone Hydrology to Improve Restoration of a Coastal River Affected by Saltwater Intrusion

Linking River, Floodplain, and Vadose Zone Hydrology to Improve Restoration of a Coastal River Affected by Saltwater Intrusion

Old Forests and Endangered Woodpeckers: Old-Growth in the Southern Coastal Plain

Modelling Evaluation of Dam Removal in the Context of River Ecosystem Restoration

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About