Year: 1989
Type: book
Abstract: The results of many watershed research studies within the 13 States comprising the Southern Region of the USDA Forest Service are summarized for their reported effects of common forest management practices on water quality.The results are grouped by Major Land Resource Areas.Sediment yields from forested basins in the Southeast are typically less than 0.25 ton per acre per year under undisturbed conditions, but can rise to 100 times this amount for brief periods following poorly conducted logging and road building operations.Recovery to pre-disturbance levels takes less than three years.A number of Best Management Practices (BMP's) are shown to minimize damage to water quality.Some changes in chemical concentrations and export in streamwater have been noted in research studies, particularly in the mountains.Small increases in potassium and nitrates have been most common, but are thought to represent no ecological threat to aquatic communities.Forest insect pest epidemics can also cause increases in water nitrate-nitrogen concentrations.Monitoring of commonly used forest herbicides has shown they pose no threat to aquatic plants, insects or fish when applied correctly.They also breakdown in forest soils very rapidly.
Authors: Stephen P. Glasser, United States.
Language: English
Subfield: Environmental Chemistry
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
OpenAlex ID: W2484588549