Effect of ditching operations on stream-water chemistry in a boreal forested catchment

The effects of ditching of boreal forest land on stream-water quality and quantity was assessed by comparing, over a 4-year-period, the physicochemical properties of the water in two small streams (western Finland), one whose catchment was ditched for forestry halfway through the sampling period and...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Science of the total environment 2001-11, Vol.279 (1), p.117-129
Main Authors: Åström, Mats, Aaltonen, Eeva-Kaarina, Koivusaari, Juhani
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Boreal
Catchment
Ditching
Drainage
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics
Exact sciences and technology
Finland
Forestry
Freshwater
Geochemistry
Hydrochemistry
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Hydrology
Hydrology. Hydrogeology
Metals, Heavy - analysis
Mineralogy
Pollution, environment geology
Silicates
Soil
Soil Pollutants - analysis
Trees
Water geochemistry
Water Movements
Water Pollutants - analysis
Water quality
Water Supply
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The effects of ditching of boreal forest land on stream-water quality and quantity was assessed by comparing, over a 4-year-period, the physicochemical properties of the water in two small streams (western Finland), one whose catchment was ditched for forestry halfway through the sampling period and another nearby (control) stream whose catchment was not ditched (‘paired catchment method’). While the artificial drainage did not have any significant effect on the hydrograph, it resulted in an increase in the aquatic concentrations of Mn, Ca, Mg, suspended material and alkalinity, a decrease in the concentrations of TOC and H 3O +, while for Al and Fe there was a change in control mechanisms. The concentration and control changes after ditching are related to changes in hydrological pathways and to the exposure of both organic (peat) and inorganic (mineral soil) layers on the ditch slopes.
ISSN:0048-9697
1879-1026
DOI:10.1016/S0048-9697(01)00757-4