Effects of Disturbance on Water Quantity and Quality in the Southern Appalachians

James M. Vose (Presenter), Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory

The southern Appalachian region is characterized by high terrestrial and aquatic diversity.  This diversity is the result of complex interactions among climate, topography, soils, and disturbance history. Abundant rainfall and steep topography results in numerous perennial streams which support this aquatic diversity, provide unique recreational opportunities, and provide drinking water to most municipalities in the region.  Watershed ecosystem studies provide a powerful tool for evaluating responses to natural disturbances and management.  The quantity and quality of streamwater is an especially sensitive indicator, since these parameters reflect biogeochemical  and hydrological cycling processes within the watershed.  For example, studies at the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory have identified nitrate nitrogen (NO₃-N) as a particularly sensitive indicator of disturbances such as insect defoliation and vegetation management.  Evaluation of long- and short-term responses to large-scale disturbances and management must be put in context of the range of variability inherent to undisturbed ecosystems.  In this paper, I will synthesize long-term studies of the impacts of disturbance and land management.

Workshop VII: Aquatic Ecosystems

Sustaining
Southern
Forests

a conference sponsored by the Southern Forest Resource Assessment