Effects of clear-cuts on water quality (and quantity)

What does a clear-cut mean?

Clear-cutting - a forestry treatment (or a logging practice) is the removal of all trees at one
time from a specific surface. On that clearing surface is to be installed a new generation. Clear-
cutting is not a universally accepted practice.
There are two groups of treatments (clear-cuts):
- clear-cuts on small parcels with natural regeneration (renewal of the forest achieved
either by natural seeding or from the vegetative reproduction of plants on the site);
- clear-cuts on large parcels with artificial regeneration (by planting or direct seeding);
When are conditions right to consider clear-cutting a forestry treatment?
- when regenerating tree species that need full sunlight to stimulate seed sprouting and
seedling growth;
- when dealing with sparse or exposed or shallow-rooted trees that are in danger of being
damaged by wind;
- when trying to produce an even-aged stand (stand of trees in which there are only small
differences in age among the individual trees);
- when regenerating stands of tree species that are dependent on windblown seed, root
suckers or cones that need fire to drop seed;
- when faced with salvaging over-mature stands and/or stands killed by insects, disease or
fire;
- when converting to another tree species by planting or seeding;
- to provide habitat for wildlife species that require edge, new ground and "high-density,
even-aged stands";
Besides the notorious services of forest, we could also point out the hydrological and
edaphic functions, which are very important for the water quality and quantity. Those two
functions are in communion.

Hydrological function of forest
Large areas from the forest zone, by their structural composition and physiological
processes, strongly influence the hydrological processes and so the water cycle in nature.
Forest vegetation participates in this process by the following: brakes surface runoff;
facilitates infiltration and deep percolation of storm water; supplies the springs; ensures
permanent and moderate regime of rivers flow.
Brutal intervention in forest ecosystem, like clear-cuts, increases the total runoff up to 40 %,
in the first years after clear-cutting.
Edaphic function of forest
Trees have many direct and indirect effects on the physical, chemical and biological
properties of soils. For example, root channels increase soil aeration and drainage, and allow
downward mixing of soil particles, while the root mat as a whole inhibits particle erosion by wind
and water, and downhill movements of soil. Plant litter and exudates, and animal wastes and
corpses are incorporated, with at least two-thirds of the total litter input coming from death of
fine roots and mycohrrizas (Persson 1978; Fogel 1980; Ulrich et al. 1981)
Different tree species also vary in the degree to which they modify the chemical
composition and acidity of rain dripping off their leaves or canalized as stem-flow. (Ernst 1978).

The roots of forest vegetation are essential for soil sustainability. They prevent erosion.
Plant species composition can be used to indicate the properties of soils (many plant
species indicate distinct edaphic conditions).
How would clear cutting a forest affect the soil?
The vegetation cover largely influences the run-off formation in a catchment. ()forest
retain larger volumes of water , slow down the run-off formation and significantly decrease
discharge peaks during floods. [LWF, 2003. Mendel, 2000].
When the soil is more exposed to climate through the removal of the forest canopy, many
things change:
-the soil will see an increase in sunlight and as a result will experience increased heating.
This heating will exacerbate organic matter decomposition through increased oxidation (acidity
increases with increasing oxidation).
-the soil will also experience more precipitation and subsequent water movement through
the profile. This movement has the potential to transport some nutrients to lower reaches of the
soil profile. The water movement will also serve to weather the soil particles.
Clear cutting large areas leads to erosion on slopes, disruption of bio-elements cycle,
suddenly disturbing of the near soil bio-climate, and other consequences resulting from the
operation mode, wood removal, machinery using, etc
How soils could influence the water quality?
Soils are a fundamental component of forestry production systems because they provide
water storage, aeration, nutrients, plant anchorage, and suitable environments for soil
organisms.
When a soil is unstable, the water may run off the surface, carrying soil particles with it.
This process, called soil erosion, could be a major cause of soil degradation and water quality
decreasing.
() Increased sedimentation and turbidity impedes the effectiveness of disinfection
processes. (Tetra Tech, 5-9).
Organic matter affects both the chemical and physical properties of the soil and its overall
health. Properties influenced by organic matter include: soil structure; moisture holding
capacity; diversity and activity of soil organisms; and nutrient availability;
Water quality and quantity effects from clear-cutting
Parameters of water quality are: salinity, nutrients, sediment and temperature.
A study made in California shows that the main effects of clear-cutting are:
Increased sedimentation, nutrient loading
Increased sedimentation depends on the texture, slope, and soil cover. Without the tree
cover, the energy of rainfall has the potential to move exposed soil. If there is enough slope,
the dislodged soil may move. In the upper portions of the soil are most nutrients are found.
Another potential hazard is the movement of soil to water bodies which may decrease
storage capacity of lakes, dams, reservoirs.
The effect of the soil from forest clear cutting depends on a variety of attributes. Some
may be beneficial and some may be detrimental.
Sediment often carries organic matter, animal or industrial wastes, nutrients, and
chemicals.
Runoff water also can transport potentially harmful dissolved chemicals from fields to
bodies of water. Nitrogen, in the form of nitrate, NO
3
, may cause human and animal health
problems when concentrations exceed 10 milligrams of nitrogen per liter (44 mg of NO
3
). In
waters where nitrogen deficiency limits growth of the ecosystem, added nitrogen stimulates
algae growth.
The clear-cutting and subsequent scarification increase the phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N)
and iron (Fe) concentrations and also the amounts of dissolved organic matter are diminished.

Increased stream temperature
The influence of the primary factor controlling stream temperatures, solar radiation, is
amplified following removal of nearby vegetation. The lack of shade during the summer
increases the waters temperature.
.
Changes of water yield

*Increased high flows from storms and spring run-off

Increases in water yield are directly related to reduction in evaporative ( Penman
[1963]).

Erosion caused by clear-cutting leads to an increased run-off of rain earlier in the spring.
Trees use a big quantity of water during their physiological process (which usually begin in
spring season). High precipitations and snow break are typical for spring season. If there is no
water input from trees and, apart from that, there is a high quantity of precipitation, there are
conditions of high flows and run-off.

*Decreased low flows in summer
By the removal of the forest, evapotranspiration is reduced, also the soil properties change
(soil patterns may be altered).
Decreased low flows in summer are conditioned by high storm temperature and low rainfall
intensity.

Injury to fish, amphibian and other wildlife population

Low flows are becoming lower, leading to elevated water temperatures

Conclusions:

Water quality characteristics most affected by clear-cuts are: sediment dissolved nutrients
and water temperature.

A good forest management could also influence the water quality and quantity management.
Avoiding clear-cuts, using selective cutting, or, in case clear-cuts are needed, using less harmful
ways of collecting wood (e.g funiculars) and develop forest regeneration as soon as possible
might be some good ways of keeping the surface and subsurface water under control.




















Literature:
Nicolescu, V. Norocel,2012, Silvotehnic, Transylvania University of Braov, Braov;
Trziu, D., 1997, Pedologie i Staiuni Forestiere, Ed. Ceres, Bucureti;
Koblenz, 2007, Forest hidrology- results of research in Germany and Russia ;
URL-s:
http://forestry.about.com
http://www.stopclearcuttingcalifornia.org