Evaluating the hydrological response of a boreal fen following the removal of a temporary access road

Elmes, Matthew C.; Kessel, Eric; Wells, Corey M.; Sutherland, George; Price, Jonathan S.; Macrae, Merrin L.; Petrone, Richard M.

doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.125928

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…Track removal did not lead to significant recovery over the duration of the experimental period when comparing the abandoned track to controls for penetrometer and bulk density data. While a study from a fen in Canada found that significant decrease in bulk density, with values comparable to controls, had occurred 3 years after track removal (Elmes et al, 2021) we were not able to conclude, at this stage, that removal of mesh tracks on blanket bog will lead to rarefaction. Our findings suggest that further research into deformation of peat resulting from vehicular usage is required to establish the maximum number of vehicular passes that can be made over a peat surface before plastic deformation occurs, which would build on previous work looking at peat tensile strengths (Dykes, 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%

Section: Main Findingsmentioning

confidence: 57%

“…Although there has been an increase in the number of studies into peatland road and track impacts in recent years, overall the effects of these tracks are still poorly understood (Williams‐Mounsey et al, 2021). These infrastructure networks may be narrow, rudimentary linear unpaved track features such as single‐use seismic lines or they may be wide, fully engineered surfaced roads with associated drainage features designed for regular usage (Elmes et al, 2021; McKendrick‐Smith, 2016; Pilon, 2015; Williams‐Mounsey et al, 2021). In some regions of North America, tracks and roads represent the largest form of human disturbance (Jorgenson et al, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Blanket bogs exhibit significant alterations to physical properties as a result of temporary track removal or abandonment

Williams‐Mounsey,

Crowle,

Grayson

et al. 2024

Ecohydrology

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Temporarily consented tracks made from high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) mesh have been used to mitigate both the physical and ecological impacts on peatlands from low‐frequency vehicle usage. However, the impacts of mesh track removal or abandonment at the end of the consented period remain poorly understood. Over a 2‐year period, we studied replicate sections of abandoned mesh track which, at the start of the experiment, had been unused for approximately 5 years, on a UK blanket bog. Some sections were removed (using two treatment methods – vegetation mown and unprepared), whereas others were left in situ. Metrics were compared both between treatments and to undisturbed reference areas. Significant differences in surface soil moisture were found between abandoned and removed tracks depending on season. Control areas had higher volumetric soil moisture than track locations. Compaction was significantly higher across all track locations in comparison to controls (p < 0.001), but rarefaction was not recorded post‐removal, suggesting long‐term deformation. Overland flow events were recorded in rut sections for a mean of 16% of the time, compared to <1% in control areas. Sediment traps on the tracks collected 0.406 kg compared to 0.0048 kg from the control traps, equating to a per trap value of 7.3 g from track samplers and 0.17 g from control samplers. Erosion and desiccation features occurred on both removed and abandoned track sections. Both abandonment and removal of mesh tracks have a wide range of impacts on the physical properties of peatlands, suggesting that only where access is a necessity should such a track be installed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%

Section: Main Findingsmentioning

confidence: 57%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Blanket bogs exhibit significant alterations to physical properties as a result of temporary track removal or abandonment

Williams‐Mounsey,

Crowle,

Grayson

et al. 2024

Ecohydrology

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“…The hydrological connectivity to undisturbed, adjacent peatland ecosystems has been proven the most important factor for the development of peatland characteristic vegetation communities, peat accumulation, and carbon uptake (Lemmer et al 2020;Engering et al 2022;Xu et al 2022). The complete removal of the mineral fill, a common, intuitive approach that is often required by regulations, can create deep water bodies due to the partial inability of compressed peat to rebound after infrastructure removal (Elmes et al 2021). This leads to invasion by aquatic plants such as cattails (Typha latfolia) and the development of non-peat-forming, marsh wetlands (Lemmer et al 2022).…”

Section: Peatland Conservation: Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global Peatlands Assessment: The State of the World’s Peatlands - Evidence for Action toward the Conservation, Restoration, and Sustainable Management of Peatlands

2022

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The goal of this assessment is to inform and inspire action in policy, research and practice that can help to protect, restore and sustainably manage peatlands now and long into the future. It provides a global overview of the current state, extent, governance and contributions to people of peatlands and of the drivers of peatland ecosystem change. Drawing on the best available science, the assessment is designed to help decision makers plan for sustainable peatland management and to mobilize and inspire peatlands conservation and restoration action at scale and at speed.

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“…Their carbon storage capacity is another focus of many studies (Yu, 2011;Gallego-Sala et al, 2018;Loisel et al, 2021). Peatland resilience to natural and anthropic disturbances such as drainage (e.g., Menberu et al, 2018;Harris et al, 2020), roads (Saraswati et al, 2020;Elmes et al, 2021), fires (Bourgeau-Chavez et al, 2020;Nelson et al, 2021), and climate change is also of growing concern. According to some climate projections, northern peatlands will experience an increase in vapor pressure deficit (Yuan et al, 2019), resulting in increased evapotranspiration that could exceed that of the surrounding boreal forest (Helbig et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aquifer-Peatland Hydrological Connectivity and Controlling Factors in Boreal Peatlands

et al. 2022

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The conditions in which groundwater inflow occurs in boreal peatlands and its contribution to peatland water balance are still poorly understood. The objectives of this research were to quantify the hydrological connectivity between a surficial aquifer and a peatland, and to identify the controlling factors in boreal peatlands of north-central Quebec (Canada). The peatlands were instrumented with piezometers and groundwater levels were monitored during two growing seasons. Hydraulic conductivities were measured on peat cores and in situ, groundwater inflows and outflows were calculated using the Darcy equation. The peatland water budgets were simulated for the two peatlands with a steady-state groundwater flow model to verify flow hypotheses, to quantify unmeasured flows and to explore recharge scenarios leading to changes in connectivity. The two peatlands have contrasted water budgets, with recharge representing the largest inflow (78%) and subsurface runoff representing the largest outflow (85%) the peatland with the smallest catchment area (Misask). The peatland with the largest catchment area (Cheinu) is also located downgradient within the regional watershed. Its inflows are dominated by groundwater (56%) and its outflows are mostly towards subsurface runoff (74%). The two peatlands are in conditions of precipitation excess and a recharge reduction would not affect their peatland heads markedly (<10 cm). However, recharge changes could induce larger modifications in groundwater inflows and outflows for the peatland with a larger catchment area. The dominating peatland hydrological functions are thus contrasted at the two sites, and it is hypothesized that the water table depths thresholds triggering changes between storage, transmission and runoff functions are also different. Although further studies remain to be done to understand how hydrological conditions change through time, and ultimately what are the long-term impacts of a changing climate on hydrology, vegetation and carbon accumulation, this work shows that understanding peatland hydrology requires to consider hydrological conditions beyond the peatland limits.

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Evaluating the hydrological response of a boreal fen following the removal of a temporary access road

Cited by 7 publications

References 56 publications

Blanket bogs exhibit significant alterations to physical properties as a result of temporary track removal or abandonment

Blanket bogs exhibit significant alterations to physical properties as a result of temporary track removal or abandonment

Global Peatlands Assessment: The State of the World’s Peatlands - Evidence for Action toward the Conservation, Restoration, and Sustainable Management of Peatlands

Aquifer-Peatland Hydrological Connectivity and Controlling Factors in Boreal Peatlands

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