Impact of Drainage and Site Conversion of Pocosin Lands on Water Quality

Williams, Thomas M.; Askew, G. R.; Hook, Donal D.

doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-9807-7_23

Cited by 9 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Williams and Askew (1988) observed an increase in suspended sediments from ditch spoil. Concentration or dilution effects should be minimal since the volume of water export does not change significantly (Daniel 1981).…”

Section: Water Quality and Nutrient Export From Disturbed Pocosinsmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…Increases in nutrient availability following fire are generally limited to the first growing season and decline dramatically or disappear completeIy thereafter (Wilbur andChristensen 1983, Walbridge 1989). Williams and Askew (1988) found significant increases in K + concentrations and significant decreases in sediment, NO~, and H ÷ concentrations in drainage waters following site preparation that included burning. Fire could cause the volatilization of organic N and S, reducing NO3-and $O42"export, although Wilbur and Christensen's (1983) data do not support this hypothesis forN in pocosin soils.…”

Section: Firementioning

confidence: 98%

“…Lowered water tables produced by drainage must then be due to increased transpiration. Both Otte and Loftin (1983) and Williams and Askew (1988) suggest that the increase in transpirative demand following drainage is met by ground water rather than surface water. Increased transpiration following drainage could result from an increase in the effective root absorbing surface area (clue to the increase in depth of the aerobic zone), an increase in the time that plant stomates remain open (related to the increased productivity stimulated by drainage), or both.…”

Section: Water Quality and Nutrient Export From Disturbed Pocosinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Increased transpiration following drainage could result from an increase in the effective root absorbing surface area (clue to the increase in depth of the aerobic zone), an increase in the time that plant stomates remain open (related to the increased productivity stimulated by drainage), or both. Drainage should cause an increase in the period and depth of water table decline during the drydown phase (Williams and Askew 1988) and will influence the timing of freshwater inputs to downstream estuarine ecosystems (Daniel 198 I).…”

Section: Water Quality and Nutrient Export From Disturbed Pocosinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The increase in soil oxygen status should stimulate decomposition, favoring CO2 over CI4_a evolution, and may cause a decline in the export of organic C and associated nutrients, with a concomitant increase in inorganic N and P export. Nitrate and SO4r may increase specifically as N and S oxidation are stimulated and gaseous N and S efflux from anaerobic decomposition are inhibited (Williams and Askew 1988). Increased nutrient availability in surface and subsurface waters could be balanced partially or wholly by increased plant uptake, with no net effect on water quality or nutrient export.…”

Section: Water Quality and Nutrient Export From Disturbed Pocosinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Water quality of pocosins and associated wetlands of the Carolina Coastal Plain

Walbridge

Richardson

1991

Wetlands

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We reviewed literature data on pocosins and associated wetlands of the Carolina coastal plain to 1) characterize the surface and subsurface water quality of undisturbed pocosins, 2) identify the processes controlling solution C, N, and P concentrations, and 3) examine the effects of disturbance on water quality and nutrient export. We hypothesized that the key to predicting nutrient losses from disturbed pocosins lies in understanding how disturbance affects both hydrologic export and the processes controlling solution C, N, and P concentrations. Since the development of pocosins for commercial forestry and agriculture involves a complex series of disturbances (drainage, vegetation removal, fire, and fertilization), we analyzed the specific effects of these component disturbances as well as the composite effects of agricultural and silvicultural development.Surface and subsurface waters of undisturbed pocosins are dominated by H + cations (100 -1000 geq/L) and SO+ z-anions (475 tzeq/L), with Ca2+ concentrations below 50 p.eq/L, and are chemically similar to more northern ombrotmphic bogs. However, pocosin waters are more acid and contain higher concentratiom of Na +, SO42-, and CI-, probably due to their coastal environment. Solution export of N from undisturbed pocosins is primarily as organic N (74 -88%), but even though organic P comprises 73 -93 % of total dissolved P in subsurface pore waters, 57 -87% of P exported is inorganic PC)+ 3". C:P ratios increase during the growing season in subsurface waters from 2355:1 in June to 9563:1 in August, as soluble organic P and PO43supply to in situ anion-exchange resins decline.Biological processes control C, N, and P transformations in pocosin soils and are strongly influenced by hydrology and P availability. Seasonal changes in water table depth suggest seasonal fluctuations in soft redox potential that could affect a variety of processes controlling water quality and nutrient export and may cause changes in the source o f pocosin drainage waters (surface, subsurface, or mineral soil), thus affecting water qua]i T. Phosphorus availability limits plant growth and may play an important roIe in controlling nutrient export due to its potential influence on rates of C, N, and P cycling.Drainage of otherwise undisturbed pocosins does not affect total runoff volume but may affect nutrient export due to changes in the source of drainage waters. Drainage coupled 418 WETLANDS, Volume 11, Special Issue, 1991 with vegetation removal increases total runoff, increasing freshwater inputs downstream. Fire increases soil nu~ient availability and may increase nutrient export when coupled with v egetation removal. Fertilization effects on nutrient export will be determined by fertilization frequency and by the degree of saturation of the immobilization capacity of soil mi~oorgan-isms, the uptake capacity of plant roots, and the sorption capacity of soil minerals. Agricultural development increases C, N, and P concentrations in drainage waters and N and P export. Silviculture may ha...

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Section: Water Quality and Nutrient Export From Disturbed Pocosinsmentioning

confidence: 86%

Section: Firementioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Water Quality and Nutrient Export From Disturbed Pocosinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Water Quality and Nutrient Export From Disturbed Pocosinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Water Quality and Nutrient Export From Disturbed Pocosinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Water quality of pocosins and associated wetlands of the Carolina Coastal Plain

Walbridge

Richardson

1991

Wetlands

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Wetlands: History, current status, and future

Hook

1993

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Wetlands have been intricately linked with humankind throughout the ages. Evidence of rice culture dates to the earliest age of humans, long before the era of historical records. Drain‐field and raised‐field agriculture occurred in wetlands throughout large areas of Mesoamerica before Hispanic exploration of the region. About 40% of the world's population uses rice as a major staple; rice culture currently occupies about 15% of the world's wetland area. Wetlands are valued for high biological productivity; as filters, sinks, and transformers for sediments, nutrients, and pollutants; and as buffers between aquatic systems and human activities on upland areas. Because of their varied ecological functions, wetlands are of interest to ecotoxicologists as potential sites for detoxifying pollutants. Estimates are that wetlands occupy about 3 to 6% of the world's land area. Attempts to define, delineate, monitor, and regulate the use of wetlands in the United States have proven to be extremely complex. Considerable progress has been made in classifying and monitoring changes in wetland areas on a nationwide basis, but less success has been achieved in defining and delineating wetlands. The United States experience should be a useful model for developing countries to study as they attempt to deal with wetland management and protection. As long as the world's population continues to grow at exponential rates, it seems highly probable that pressure to use wetlands to meet society's demands will increase. Consequently, opportunities to set aside reserves will decrease, and the role that wetlands play in maintaining quality of life will depend more and more on our collective ability to develop and promote compatible uses on wetlands.

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Effects of forest management on surface water quality in wetland forests

Shepard

1994

Wetlands

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A lilerature review on the effects of silvicultural practices on water quality in wetland forests was conducted. The review summarized results from nine wetland forests in five states (AL, FL, MI, NC, and SC). Silvicultural practices assessed were timber harvesting (including thinning and clearcutting), site preparation, bedding, planting, drainage, and fertilization. Many of the studies reviewed observed increased concentrations of suspended sediment and nutrients following silvicultural operations when compared with undisturbed conla'ols. Water quality criteria were rarely exceeded by silvicultural operations, however, and effects on water quality were transient. Water quality parameters returned to undisturbed levels within a period ranging from months to several years.

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Impact of Drainage and Site Conversion of Pocosin Lands on Water Quality

Cited by 9 publications

References 3 publications

Water quality of pocosins and associated wetlands of the Carolina Coastal Plain

Water quality of pocosins and associated wetlands of the Carolina Coastal Plain

Wetlands: History, current status, and future

Effects of forest management on surface water quality in wetland forests

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