Abstract
This study focuses on avoiding negative effects on surface waters using new techniques for identifying wet areas near surface waters. This would aid planning and designing of forest buffer zones and off-road forestry traffic. The temporal variability in the geographical distribution of the stream network renders this type of planning difficult. A field study was performed in the 68 km2 Krycklan Catchment to illustrate the variability of a boreal stream network. The perennial stream length was 140 km while the stream length during high-flow conditions was 630 km. Comparing the field-measured stream network to the network presented on current maps showed that 58% of the perennial and 76% of the fully expanded network was missing on current maps. Similarly, cartographic depth-to-water maps showed that associated wet soils constituted 5% of the productive forest land during baseflow and 25% during high flow. Using a new technique, maps can be generated that indicate full stream networks, as well as seasonally active streams and associated wet soils, thus, forestry planning can be performed more efficiently and impacts on surface waters can be reduced.
Highlights
Today, forestry is often performed using various forest machinery and forest soils can be subjected to traffic several times during a rotation period
We focus on the effects on surface water, caused by changing the natural flow-paths and erosion of mineral soil exposed in wheel tracks which can lead to increased sediment transports in discharging streams
While field verification is the most reliable way [53] to properly plan management of riparian forests, we propose that the time for this can be reduced by using digital elevation model (DEM) derived stream networks and associated wet soils
Summary
Forestry is often performed using various forest machinery and forest soils can be subjected to traffic several times during a rotation period. Because of the increasing need for forest bioenergy to meet green energy targets including the EU Renewable Energy Directive, harvest intensity is expected to increase in many countries [1,2] This will place additional pressure on boreal water quality [3,4], for instance by increased off-road forestry traffic. Sediment transport can cause siltation in downstream gravelly stream beds [15], thereby decreasing reproductive success of fresh-water fish by reducing permeability of spawning gravels and reduce oxygen supply to ova [16] It can affect the benthic macroinvertebrate communities by particle accumulation on body surfaces, respiratory structures or disrupt the feeding system of filterers [17]. Rutting along slopes and wet soils can create new channels for runoff and change the natural course of a stream by providing alternative pathways in wheel tracks
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