Dry Creek Cooperative Study of Riparian Management in Industrial Forest Lands

Research Team: Masato Miwa (International Paper), Craig Hedman (International Paper), Mark Hughes (International Paper), William B. Summer (International Paper), Rebecca Winn (International Paper), David G. Jones (International Paper), C. Rhett Jackson (University of Georgia), and Dr. Stephen W. Golladay (Associate Scientist)

Streamside management zones (SMZs) are designed to protect stream water and riparian ecosystems from potential impacts related to forestry or other operations. Many previous SMZ studies have shown that forested/vegetated buffers effectively filter runoff, eroded materials, soil nutrients, and pesticides from uplands. However, effects of upland harvesting on stream hydroperiod and the effect of hydrological alteration on aquatic communities have not been well documented. Furthermore, since many forestry best management practices (BMPs) in the Southeastern United States allow partial harvesting within SMZs, canopy reduction and minor soil disturbance within SMZs may have a significant effect on stream and riparian environments. Because of the recent TMDL debates and related environmental awareness, the need for watershed hydrology and SMZ effectiveness studies has increased. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to determine the effect of SMZ management on the water quality and aquatic communities. The study site is located at International Paper's Southlands Experiment Forest, Decatur Study design for SMZ treatments. Co., GA. Four headwater streams (mostly intermittent) have been chosen for the study watershed, and each watershed area is approximately 32 to 40 ha (80 to 100 ac). Two watersheds will serve as a reference (no harvesting within the watershed), and two other watersheds will be harvested and site prepared following typical pine plantation forestry practices. SMZs will be established in the treatment watersheds, and the SMZ will be divided into upper and lower sections, which consists of 240 to 300 m (800 to 1000 ft) stream segment in each SMZ section. No harvesting treatment will be applied on the upper SMZ sections, and partial harvesting (50 ft² ac^-1 basal area remaining or 50% canopy cover of original stand) treatment will be applied on the lower SMZ sections. At a discharge point of each SMZ treatment section, stream water flow will be monitored, monthly baseflow water samples will be collected, and hourly storm flow water samples will be collected. These water samples will be analyzed for various water quality indicators, such as turbidity, total suspended solids, nitrate, and orthophosphates. Stream water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and conductivity will also be measured monthly at each station. Precipitation will be measured near the study area. Benthic macroinvertebrates will be sampled at each reference and treatment stream segments in fall and winter to assess effects of SMZ environmental changes due to upland and SMZ partial harvesting. After the harvesting operation, points of erosion input from uplands to SMZs will be identified by monthly surveys along the perimeters of SMZs, and a series of erosion/ sedimentation bars and sediment trapping fences will be established at these input points to Stream gaging station with water quality sampler quantify soil movements. These results will provide useful information to reevaluate and potentially improve the efficiency and effectiveness of state BMP programs. Specifically, how upland forest operations and harvesting within SMZs alter stream hydrology and water quality, and how benthic aquatic organisms are affected by the SMZ environment alteration.

Additional Information:

Entrekin, S., S. Golladay, M. Ruhlman, and C. Hedman. 1999. Unique steephead stream segements in southwest Georgia invertebrate diversity and biomonitoring. Pages 295-306 in Kathryn J. Hatcher (Editor). Proceedings of the Georgia Water Resources Conference, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia. Pdf-version

Funded by: The Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center and International Paper Company