Silvicultural Practices and Water Table Dynamics of Coastal Forested Wetlands

Abstract

HighlightsForested wetland hydrology (WH) is characterized by changes in daily water table (WT) depth over time.Silvicultural operations (harvesting, thinning, bedding, and minor drainage and intensity) affect WT dynamics.Both WT dynamics and WH are also affected by tree stand age/growth and soil types, besides the climate.Knowledge gaps and future research using modeling, including machine learning methods are discussed.Abstract. Sustainable management of forested wetlands requires an understanding of water table (WT) dynamics affected by rainfall and evapotranspiration (ET) as well as management practices to sustain water quality, quantity, and ecosystem services. The hydrology, the most important factor influencing productivity of forested wetlands, may be characterized by measuring changes in WT depth over time. The hydrology of U.S. Southeastern Coastal Plain forested wetlands, particularly wet pine flats and pocosins, where drainage has been commonly used to improve tree growth, is relatively well understood. However, uncertainties remain regarding the effects of some silvicultural practices on WT dynamics of varying soil and drainage types and the role of climatic trends, including extreme events (precipitation and droughts), on WT dynamics of these forested lands. In this paper, we use information from long-term monitoring and modeling studies conducted at sites in the Southeastern Atlantic Coastal Plain to review the current state of research on potential effects of harvesting, thinning, bedding, and minor drainage on changes to WT dynamics in coastal non-riverine forested wetlands. We also briefly illustrate current gaps in knowledge and outline future potential research in this area. Keywords: Pine forest, Bedding, Harvesting, Minor drainage, Water table, Wetland hydrology, Hydrology models.