Characterization of hydrologic and sediment transport behavior of forested headwater streams in southwest Georgia
Author(s)
Summer, W. B.
Jackson, C. Rhett
Jones, D.
Miwa, M.
Advisor(s)
Editor(s)
Hatcher, Kathryn J.
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Abstract
Properly established streamside management
zones (SMZs) reduce impacts of timber
harvesting on stream sediment fluxes. However,
effects of partial harvesting within SMZs on water
quality are not well documented. The objectives of this
study are to characterize hydrology and sediment
export in undisturbed first-order streams to provide
baseline data for a long-term paired watershed study.
The study design includes two control (no harvest) and
two eventual treatment watersheds (all are between 26
– 48 hectares in size). The entire treatment watersheds
will be harvested except for SMZs, which will be
divided into upper and lower sections. The upper
section will have an intact SMZ, while the lower
section will receive partial harvesting according to
Georgia best management practices (BMP) guidelines.
Flow and sediment concentrations will be monitored at
the outlet of each treatment and control watershed for
two years prior to harvest and for several years
following harvest. Eighteen months of pretreatment
flow and sediment data from the four study watersheds
are available for analysis. These data reveal significant
differences in hydrologic behavior among four adjacent
watersheds with similar soils and nearly identical forest
cover.
Sponsor
Date
2003-04
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Resource Type
Text
Resource Subtype
Proceedings