Forest Cover Plays a More Critical Role in Regulating Water Resources in the Piedmont than in the Mountains and Coastal Plain
The Carolinas have a long history of forest hydrology research related to sustainability of forest and water resources, but little is known about the impacts of forest harvesting on streamflow in the rapidly urbanizing Piedmont region of North and South Carolina. Scientists with the Eastern Threat Center developed a six-year study to address this spatial knowledge gap through a series of watershed studies. Researchers found that forest vegetation plays a more significant role in affecting streamflow in the Piedmont than in the mountains and coastal plain due to the region’s topography and climatic conditions. The amount of water in study streams tripled following forest clearing, suggesting that watersheds in the Piedmont might be more prone to higher stormflow generation than the mountains and coastal plain when converted from forest to urban land use. Although streamflow and sediment increased with tree removal, habitat for fish and other aquatic species remained healthy throughout the study period. The knowledge gained from this project provides land managers with a better understanding of how Piedmont watersheds store and release water and nutrients, and how to apply the most appropriate timber harvest management practices to protect fish and water resources across the mountains, Piedmont, and coastal plain. Planning for future urban growth in the Piedmont should consider the unique impacts to streamflow in response to land cover change in the region.
Right: An aerial view shows an experimental watershed study on the hydrologic impacts of forest clearing in North Carolina’s Piedmont region. Photo by David Jones, North Carolina Forest Service.
References:
Boggs, J.; Sun, G.; McNulty, S. 2015. Effects of timber harvest on water quantity and quality in small watersheds in the Piedmont of North Carolina. Journal of Forestry. 10.5849/jof.14-102
External Partners/Collaborators: North Carolina Forest Service; North Carolina State University; North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; Weyerhaeuser
Contact: Johnny Boggs
