Abstract
Forest removal represents one of the large-scale ecosystem disturbances that concern water quality degradation, species composition change, and wildlife habitat alteration along the Florida coast. We conducted a five-year study with the objective to address effects of two forest management scenarios on the water regimes of cypress-pine flatwoods ecosystems in the lower coastal plain. Three experimental blocks (16–21 ha) were used in this study, with one representing control (C), one wetlands-harvest-only (W), and one wetlands+uplands harvest (ALL). Within the center of each block, a representative cypress wetland and its surrounding pine upland were extensively instrumented to quantify the changes of each hydrologic variable induced by tree removal. Water levels in cypress wetlands in both treatment areas were significantly elevated about 32–41 cm on average, and outflow doubled in the five-month dry period immediately following the tree harvesting. The ground-water table in the upland was also raised by about 29 cm on average due to ALL, but it was not affected significantly during the entire post-treatment period by W. During wet periods, the treatment effects for both wetlands and uplands were not significant. Causes for spatial and temporal variability of hydrologic responses to forest harvesting are speculated to be 1) total evapotranspiration does not change significantly in flatwoods after tree removal during wet seasons; 2) specific yield of the flatwoods soils is variable in time and space; and 3) lateral water movement from uplands to wetlands. From this study, we conclude that harvesting both uplands and wetlands causes greater response than harvesting wetlands only. The impacts lasted for more than two years but were most pronounced only in the dry periods. Temporal and spatial variations of each hydrologic component should be considered in evaluating the hydrologic impact of forest management on the flatwoods landscape.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Amatya, D. M., R. W. Skaggs, J. D. Gregory, and R. B. Herrmann. 1997. Hydrology of a drained forested pocosin watershed. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 33:1–12.
Binkley, D., and T. C. Brown. 1993. Forest practices as nonpoint sources of pollution in North America. Water Resources Bulletin 29:729–739.
Bosch, J. M., and J. D. Hewlett. 1982. A review of catchment experiments to determine the effect of vegetation changes on water yield and evapotranspiration. Journal of Hydrology 55:3–23.
Brandt, K., and K. C. Ewel. 1989. Ecology and management of cypress swamps: a review. Florida Cooperative Extension Service, IFAS. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Capece, J. C., K. L. Campbell, L. B. Baldwin, and K. D. Konyha. 1987. Estimating runoff volumes from flat high-water-table watersheds. Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers 30:1397–1402.
Crownover, S. H., N. B. Comerford, and D. G. Neary. 1995. Water-flow patterns in cypress/pine flatwoods landscapes. Soil Science Society of America Journal 59:1199–1206.
Dube, S., A. P. Plamondon, and R. L. Rothwell. 1995. Watering up after clear-cutting on forest wetlands of the St. Lawernce lowland. Water Resources Research 31:1741–1750.
Entry, J. A., B. G. Lockaby, J. D. Hodges, S. H. Schoenholtz, J. A. Stanturf, and E. S. Gardner. 1995. Influence of Hydroperiod on Function and Structure of Forested Wetland Ecosystems. p. 723–734. In K. L. Campbell (ed.), Versatility of Wetlands in the Agricultural Landscape. American Society of Agricultural Engineers. St. Joseph, MI, USA.
Heikurainen, L. 1967. Effect of cutting on the ground-water level on drained peatlands. 1967. p. 345–354. In W. E. Sopper and H. W. Lull (eds.). Forest Hydrology. Pergamon, Elmsford, NY, USA.
Lockaby, B. G., F. C. Thornton, R. H. Jones, and R. G. Clawson. 1994. Ecological response of an oligotrophic floodplain forest to harvesting. Journal of Environment Quality 23:901–906.
Lockaby, B. G., J. Stanturf, and M. G. Messina. 1997. Effects of silvicultural activity on ecological processes in floodplain forests of the southern United States: a review of existing reports. Forest Ecology and Management 90: 93–100.
Mitsch, W. J., and J. G. Gosselink. 1986. Wetlands. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., New York, NY, USA.
Preston, D. P. 1996. Harvesting effects on the hydrology of wet pine flats. M. S. Thesis. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
Riekerk, H. 1989. Influence of silvicultural practices on the hydrology of pine flatwoods in Florida. Water Resources Research 25: 713–719.
Riekerk, H., H. L. Gholz, L. V. Korhnak, G. Sun, and S. Liu. 1996. Pine-cypress flatwoods hydrology. p. 5–19. In N. B. Comerford (ed.). The 1995 NCASI Wetlands Annual Report. Department of Soil and Water Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. USA.
Shepard, J. P., L. A. Lucier, and L. W. Haines. 1993. Industry and forest wetlands: cooperative research initiatives. Journal of Forestry 5:29–33.
Sun, G., H. Riekerk, and L. V. Korhnak. 1995. The hydrology of cypress wetland—upland ecosystems in Florida flatwoods. p. 489–500. In K. L. Campbell (ed.), Versatility of Wetlands in the Agricultural Landscape. American Society of Agricultural Engineers. St. Joseph, MI, USA.
Sun, G. 1995. Measurement and modeling of the hydrology of cypress wetlands—pine uplands ecosystems in Florida flatwoods. Ph.D. Dissertation. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Sun, G., H. Riekerk, and N. B. Comerford. 1998. Modeling the hydrologic impacts of forest harvesting on flatwoods. Journal of American Water Resources Association 34:843–854.
Trousdell, K. B., and M. D. Hoover. 1955. A change in ground-water level after clearcutting of loblolly pine in the coastal plain Journal of Forestry 53:493–498.
Verry, E. S. 1997. Hydrological processes of natural, northern forested wetlands. p. 163–188. In C. C. Trettin, M. F. Jurgensen, D. F. Grigal, M. R. Gale, and J. F. Jeglum (eds.), Northern Forested Wetlands, Ecology and Management. Lewis Publishers. New York, NY, USA.
Wang, Z. 1996. Effects of harvesting intensity on water quality, nitrogen mineralization, and litter decomposition in a bottomland hardwood floodplain forest in southern Texas. Ph.D. Dissertation. Mississippi State University. Mississippi State, MS, USA.
Williams, T. M., and D. J. Lipscomb. 1981. Water table rise after cutting on coastal plain soils. Southern Journal of Applied Forestry 5:46–48.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sun, G., Riekerk, H. & Kornhak, L.V. Ground-water-table rise after forest harvesting on cypress-pine flatwoods in Florida. Wetlands 20, 101–112 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1672/0277-5212(2000)020[0101:GWTRAF]2.0.CO;2
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1672/0277-5212(2000)020[0101:GWTRAF]2.0.CO;2