Dependency of local mesotrophic fens on a regional groundwater flow system in a poldered river plain in the Netherlands

Wassen, Martin J.; Barendregt, A.; Schot, P.P.; Beltman, B.

doi:10.1007/bf00153801

Cited by 39 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 6 publications

(6 reference statements)

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“…Furthermore, it is hypothesized that the interception and subsequent discharge of groundwater by drainage ditches may further reduce the area, and thus the contiguity of zones of groundwater supply. This hypothesis is supported by 2-D groundwater flow and transport models (Schot et al, 2004) and hydrochemical field surveys at numerous drained fens (Grootjans et al, 1988;Wassen et al, 1990;Bootsma et al, 2002). These studies indicate that anthropogenically drained fens are not supplied with groundwater, but with locally infiltrated precipitation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…This decreased supply of groundwater may cause a fall in groundwater tables and enhances the infiltration of local precipitation and surface water (Van Wirdum, 1991). As the chemical compositions of precipitation and surface water deviate from that of groundwater, an increase of these infiltration rates are thought to cause abiotic conditions that are less suitable for fen plants (Wassen et al, 1990;Fojt and Harding, 1995).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Local and regional impact of anthropogenic drainage on fen contiguity

Loon

Schot

Bierkens

et al. 2009

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. Knowledge of the hydrological mechanisms behind habitat fragmentation of fen plant communities in intensively managed regions like The Netherlands is essential to improve currently utilized fen restoration and conservation strategies. In this study, we analysed the local and regional impact of anthropogenic drainage on the groundwater supply of fens. For this purpose, we developed finescale groundwater flow models and collected empirical data to analyse (1) the differences in groundwater supply between an anthropogenically drained fen and a poorly drained fen in The Netherlands, and (2) the local and regional effects of the elimination of drainage ditches on the groundwater supply of fens. Our results consistently indicated the presence of recently infiltrated precipitation on top of upwelling groundwater across the anthropogenically drained fen, and a mixing gradient of recently infiltrated precipitation and upwelling groundwater across the poorly drained fen. Furthermore, our results showed that the elimination of drainage ditches from the anthropogenically drained fen increased the area and the flux of groundwater supply of both the anthropogenically drained fen and the poorly drained fen. We conclude that anthropogenic drainage not only causes a lowering of groundwater tables, but also (1) enhances the infiltration of local precipitation across fens while simultaneously preventing upwelling groundwater from entering the fen root zone, and (2) reduces the groundwater supply of adjacent fens by intercepting groundwater that is potentially directed to downstream regions. These insights support the need to reconsider the current priorities in hydrological fen restoration strategies.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Local and regional impact of anthropogenic drainage on fen contiguity

Loon

Schot

Bierkens

et al. 2009

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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“…The decline of low-productivity rich fens in lowland wetlands in the Netherlands has therefore been linked to the decreased seepage of calcium-rich groundwater (e.g. Beltman and Grootjans, 1986;Grootjans et al, 1988;Wassen et al, 1990a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Calcium concentrations in wetland groundwater in relation to water sources and soil conditions in the recharge area

Schot

Wassen

1993

Journal of Hydrology

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Schol, P.P. and Wassen, M.J.. 1993. Calcium concentrations ill wetland groundwater in rehtlion to water sou rces a nd soil conditions in tile recharge area. J. hydrol., 141 : 197-217.Over the past several decades, vegetation eommunities i,~ lowland wetlands in Western Europe have changed. Species-rich, love-productivity (i.e. low primary bion'.':~ss production) communities characteristic of rich fens (fens characterized by alinc~ophilous specms) have declined and are being replaced by vegetation communities characterislic of high-productivity rich fens, poor fens (fens characterized by nmbrophilous specicsI and bogs. High concentrations of calcium ie groundwater are generally believed to bc an important controlling factor on the vegetation of rich fens Management for the protection of low-productivity rich fells therefore generally aims at conscrvution of calcareous groundwater conditions in the rool zone of lowland wetlands.This paper relates the occurrence of calcium-rich groundwaler in t,~wland e,'ellands of the Central Nether!ands to water sources and soil conditions in the groundwater recharge area. The chemical compostlion of the following groundwater types is compared: groundwater recharged at a sandy ridge adjacent to tile wclhmd area (ridge walcr); groundwater recharged by precipitation witNn the wetland (peat water); groundwater recharged by surface water in the wetland. Objective hydrological criteria arc used to classify gr~mndwater analyses according to recharge area. Oxygen-18 proved an essentia 1 criterion for the distinclion between genetic groundwater types. It is therefore recommended to make oxyT.en-18 analysis standard proccdm'e ill geo|lydrological wetland research. Calcium concentrations are generall, not suitable as tracers of different types of recharge areas.All groundwater types contain calcium. In contrast to what is generally assnrned, lowest concenlralions arc observed in ridge waler. Iligher calcium concentrations are found in gronndw.~ler recharged in wctllnlds, especially ill intihratcd surface water, Nutrient concenlralinns in both ridge a~d peal water are Imv, while those in iniilttaled surface water are signilicant~y higher.The nlain conclusion for nature clmservalion is thai calcium-rich and me~otrophie cot~ri',ions ill the rot}l zone can he realised not only by the seepage of groundwater from upland sandy rechar[ge areas, as is generally thought, but also by the seepage of peat water. This is important as a severe dete,-foration ill the quality of Mdge water seeping upward on the river plain may be anticipated in tile near fut~rc, which forms a threat to low-productivity rich fens. Peal water may olll.'r an alternativc water source Ibr the conservatkm or regeneration of tow-productivity rich t~ns.

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“…Such approaches are especially useful for evaluating management options and for scenariotesting. They have been used for understanding the complex groundwater system that supports GDEs, ranging from simple two-dimensional models (Hunt et al, 1996;Cobb and Bradbury, 2008) and vertical profile models (Wassen et al, 1990) to more elaborate three-dimensional models with vegetation mapping or saturated-unsaturated flow models (Tiedeman et al, 1997;Batelaan et al, 2003;Dekker et al, 2005). A nested modelling approach was used to create threedimensional models at local and regional scales and also two-dimensional vertical profile models to understand the hydrology of fens (Gilvear et al, 1993(Gilvear et al, , 1994.…”

Section: Process-based Modelingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding fen hydrology across multiple scales

Sampath

Liao

Curtis

et al. 2016

Hydrological Processes

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Abstract:Fens, which are among the most biodiverse of wetland types in the USA, typically occur in glacial landscapes characterized by geo-morphologic variability at multiple spatial scales. As a result, the hydrologic systems that sustain fens are complex and not well understood. Traditional approaches for characterizing such systems use simplifying assumptions that cannot adequately capture the impact of variability in geology and topography. In this study, a hierarchical, multi-scale groundwater modelling approach coupled with a geologic model is used to understand the hydrology of a fen in Michigan. This approach uses highresolution data to simulate the multi-scale topographic and hydrologic framework and lithologic data from more than 8500 boreholes in a statewide water well database to capture the complex geology. A hierarchy of dynamically linked models is developed that simulates groundwater flow at all scales of interest and to delineate the areas that contribute groundwater to the fen. The results show the fen receiving groundwater from multiple sources: an adjacent wetland, local recharge, a nearby lake and a regional groundwater mound. Water from the regional mound flows to an intermediate source before reaching the fen, forming a 'cascading' connection, while other sources provide water through 'direct' connections. The regional mound is also the source of water to other fens, streams and lakes in this area, thus creating a large, interconnected hydrologic system that sustains the entire ecosystem. In order to sustainably manage such systems, conservation efforts must include both site-based protection and management, as well as regional protection and management of groundwater source areas.

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Dependency of local mesotrophic fens on a regional groundwater flow system in a poldered river plain in the Netherlands

Cited by 39 publications

References 6 publications

Local and regional impact of anthropogenic drainage on fen contiguity

Local and regional impact of anthropogenic drainage on fen contiguity

Calcium concentrations in wetland groundwater in relation to water sources and soil conditions in the recharge area

Understanding fen hydrology across multiple scales

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