Published in Hydrological Processes 22: 4163-4172<\/b><\/p>\n
In boreal forested wetlands, the observed increase in the water table level after clearcutting (watering-up) is often a threat to sustained ecosystem productivity. Hydrologic recovery refers to the processes by which a water table progressively drops back to its initial level after the cut. In eastern Canada, drainage is used operationally after clearcutting wet sites in order to lower the water table level and accelerate hydrologic recovery. The objective of this study was to evaluate the duration of the watering-up caused by timber harvesting and the extent to which drainage affected the water table recovery on five peatlands and three hydromorphic mineral sites located in the St. Lawrence Lowlands of Qu\u00e9bec (Canada). The mixed wood stands studied are dominated by balsam fir (Abies balsamea<\/em> (L.) Mill.), eastern white cedar (Thuja<\/em> occidentalis<\/em> L.), and red maple (Acer rubrum<\/em> L.). Results indicate that, 10 years after clearcutting, water table levels in undrained plots are still 5 to 7 cm higher than the pre-cut levels. The slight recovery in water table level plateaued after the third year. Rainfall interception by vegetation was also monitored, and after 10 years had reached nearly 50% of the pre-cut rate. The immediate water table drawdown following drainage mitigated watering-up within 40 m of a ditch. The persistent watering-up observed in this study should encourage using sylvicultural systems adapted to boreal forested wetlands in order to prevent productivity loss and stand conversion.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Published in Hydrological Processes 22: 4163-4172 In boreal forested wetlands, the observed increase in the water table level after clearcutting (watering-up) is often a threat to sustained ecosystem productivity. Hydrologic recovery refers to the processes by which a water table progressively drops back to its initial level after the cut. In eastern Canada, drainage is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","format":"standard","cptt_secteur":[1179],"cptt_theme":[1180,1181,1182],"cptt_categ_publi":[1149],"cptt_auteurs_ministeriels":[1065],"class_list":["post-82818","cpt_publication","type-cpt_publication","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","cptt_secteur-forests","cptt_theme-forestry-research","cptt_theme-forests","cptt_theme-silviculture","cptt_categ_publi-scientific-article","cptt_auteurs_ministeriels-i-auger"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n