Prescribed Fire: Effects on Water Quality and Forest Nutrient Cycling

Richter, D.; Ralston, C. W.; Harms, William R.

doi:10.1126/science.215.4533.661

Cited by 132 publications

(83 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…The concentration of these nutrients is generally insufficient to pose a health risk to humans due to the size and duration of the treatment and the standards imposed by legislation to manage the treatment. However, when these nutrients are released along with phosphorous (levels of which also can increase after fire; Chandler et al 1983), they can contribute to eutrophication or algal booms in adjacent water bodies (Richter et al 1982, Chandler et al 1983, Magnan and St-Onge 2000. Other soil and ash elements (calcium, magnesium, potassium) are released more slowly and seldom pose a problem to downstream water quality-although responses may vary depending on soil type.…”

Section: Water Quality and Fish Habitatmentioning

confidence: 99%

What are the Environmental Consequences of Using Silviculturally Effective Forest Vegetation Management Treatments?

SwiftKathie¹,

Wayne

2011

The Forestry Chronicle

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In this paper, we present examples of stand-level consequences of using forest vegetation management treatments in boreal and temperate forest ecosystems in Canada. Specifically, we address several selected indicators: air and water quality, soils and nutrients, plant diversity, and wildlife habitat. For each of these, we discuss direct and indirect effects of five broad categories of treatments: (1) silviculture and harvesting systems and (2) physical, (3) thermal, (4) cultural, and (5) chemical/biological treatments. Our emphasis is on forest vegetation management treatments that are currently used in Canada to manage conifers. By applying regulations and best management practices, conducting landscape-level analyses and developing longer-term monitoring programs resource managers can minimize the effects of FVM treatments on the environmental indicators presented in this paper.

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Section: Water Quality and Fish Habitatmentioning

confidence: 99%

What are the Environmental Consequences of Using Silviculturally Effective Forest Vegetation Management Treatments?

SwiftKathie¹,

Wayne

2011

The Forestry Chronicle

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“…Whether this accelerated the return to historical conditions is an area for further study. Unfortunately there were also understory mechanical treatments conducted on WS77 in 2001 and growing season fire treatments (for more on fire treatments please refer to Richter et al (1982Richter et al ( , 1983) in 2003, which might also have decreased ET on WS77. The exact timing and mechanisms responsible for the onset of the flop period are therefore somewhat confounded, however, since around 2004 the watersheds have returned to a relative state similar to that of the pre era.…”

Section: A D Jayakaran Et Al: Hurricane Impacts On a Pair Of Coastmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In November 2001, a small section of WS80 was allowed to drain separately through a small culvert reducing its drainage area to 160 ha. WS77 has experienced several silvicultural treatments carried out over the past 40 years (e.g., Gillham, 1984;Richter et al, 1983Richter et al, , 1982Binstock, 1978;Amatya et al, 2006).…”

Section: Study Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

“…WS77 and WS80 were calibrated using streamflow data between 1969 and 1976, followed by a series of prescribed burning experiments on WS77 from 1977 through 1981 (Richter et al, 1982(Richter et al, , 1983. Data collection resumed in November 1989, following Hugo, and has continued until the present (Amatya et al, 2003Miwa et al, 2003;Sun et al, 2000;Harder et al, 2007;Dai et al, 2013).…”

Section: A D Jayakaran Et Al: Hurricane Impacts On a Pair Of Coastmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Continuous flow records from these watersheds were collected from 1964 through 1981 Richter et al, 1982Richter et al, , 1983Binstock, 1978;Young and Klawitter, 1968;Young et al, 1972). WS77 and WS80 were calibrated using streamflow data between 1969 and 1976, followed by a series of prescribed burning experiments on WS77 from 1977 through 1981 (Richter et al, 1982(Richter et al, , 1983.…”

Section: A D Jayakaran Et Al: Hurricane Impacts On a Pair Of Coastmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hurricane impacts on a pair of coastal forested watersheds: implications of selective hurricane damage to forest structure and streamflow dynamics

Jayakaran

Williams

Ssegane

et al. 2014

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. Hurricanes are infrequent but influential disruptors of ecosystem processes in the southeastern Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Every southeastern forested wetland has the potential to be struck by a tropical cyclone. We examined the impact of Hurricane Hugo on two paired coastal South Carolina watersheds in terms of streamflow and vegetation dynamics, both before and after the hurricane's passage in 1989. The study objectives were to quantify the magnitude and timing of changes including a reversal in relative streamflow difference between two paired watersheds, and to examine the selective impacts of a hurricane on the vegetative composition of the forest. We related these impacts to their potential contribution to change watershed hydrology through altered evapotranspiration processes. Using over 30 years of monthly rainfall and streamflow data we showed that there was a significant transformation in the hydrologic character of the two watersheds -a transformation that occurred soon after the hurricane's passage. We linked the change in the rainfall-runoff relationship to a catastrophic change in forest vegetation due to selective hurricane damage. While both watersheds were located in the path of the hurricane, extant forest structure varied between the two watersheds as a function of experimental forest management techniques on the treatment watershed. We showed that the primary damage was to older pines, and to some extent larger hardwood trees. We believe that lowered vegetative water use impacted both watersheds with increased outflows on both watersheds due to loss of trees following hurricane impact. However, one watershed was able to recover to pre hurricane levels of evapotranspiration at a quicker rate due to the greater abundance of pine seedlings and saplings in that watershed.

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Trends in nutrients

1996

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The roles of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) as key nutrients determining the trophic status of water bodies are examined, and evidence reviewed for trends in concentrations of N and P species which occur in freshwaters, primarily in northern temperate environments. Data are reported for water bodies undergoing eutrophication and acidification, especially water bodies receiving increased nitrogen inputs through the atmospheric deposition of nitrogen oxides (NO,). Nutrient loading on groundwaters and surface freshwaters is assessed with respect to causes and rates of change, relative rates of change for N and P, and implications of change for the future management of lakes. rivers and groundwaters. In particular, the nature and emphasis of studies for N species and P fractions in lakes versus rivers and groundwaters are contrasted. This review paper primarily focuses on results from North America and Europe, particularly for the UK where a wide range of data sets exists. Few nutrient loading data have been published on water bodies in less developed countries; however, some of the available data are presented to provide a global perspective. In general, N and P concentrations have increased dramatically (>20 times background concentrations) in many areas and causes vary considerably, ranging from urbanization to changes in agricultural practices. Phosphorus transformations generally operate over a longer time-scale than those of N, occur in fewer steps, and are strongly linked to the cycling of sediments (see Figure 2). Mechanisms of P transfer are relatively simple, involving assimilation and dissimilation by biota, immobilization through complexation and chelation, mobilization through the hydrolysis of bivalent and trivalent cations, and adsorption to sediments. Phosphorus does not undergo redox reactions within its cycle. Geochemical fluxes of P are 266 A. L. HEATHWAITE, P. J. JOHNES AND N. E. PETERS WATER m ATMOSPHERIC & bacterial decomposition HYDROSPHERIC y c / i s s i m i / a t i > SOIL BIOTA Organic \ assimilation/ e,g, SEDIMENTS (Fe3+, A13+) synthesis Kaolinite metal complexes nonmetal complexes (Fe3+, AP+) (Ca2+, MI-?+) nonmetal complexes orthophoshates (Ca'+. Mn2+) (H3P04 HzP04-orthophoshates HPO,~-, po43-) (H, PO, H, PO; HPO,~-. ~0~3 -I e.g. Kaolinite metal complexes \ Figure 2. Phosphorus cycle dependent on suspended sediment transport in water bodies and dust emissions to the atmosphere. The rate and magnitude of both fluxes are small. Newman (1995) suggests that phosphorus in the atmosphere from fine soil particles and the burning of plant material, coal and oil varies from 0.7 to 1.7 kgP ha-' yr-', with input rates showing marked spatial variations. Newman (1995) also suggests that P released through weaihering processes may produce yields from 0.05 to 1*0kgPha--' yr-', with rates reaching a high of 5 kg Pha-' yr-' in some locations. In the UK, several meres of the Shropshire glacial plain are considered to be naturally eutrophic as a result of weathering of deposits of P-rich minerals, such as ap...

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Prescribed Fire: Effects on Water Quality and Forest Nutrient Cycling

Cited by 132 publications

References 12 publications

What are the Environmental Consequences of Using Silviculturally Effective Forest Vegetation Management Treatments?

What are the Environmental Consequences of Using Silviculturally Effective Forest Vegetation Management Treatments?

Hurricane impacts on a pair of coastal forested watersheds: implications of selective hurricane damage to forest structure and streamflow dynamics

Trends in nutrients

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