Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of Forest Thinning on Water Yield in a Sub-Humid Mediterranean Oak-Beech Mixed Forested Watershed

  • Published:
Water Resources Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Forested watersheds provide fresh water with best quality and forestry practices play important role on the water production in the watersheds. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of 18 % thinning, which was under the 20 % threshold value reported in the literature on water yield in a forested watershed. Two experimental watersheds with similar ecological conditions in the Belgrad Forest of Istanbul were studied. Following a 6-year calibration period from December 2005 to October 2011, a simple linear regression equation was developed between the monthly streamflows of two watersheds with a significantly high correlation coefficient (r = 0.95). After 18 % of standing volume was removed from one watershed and the other was left untreated as a control, the streamflow was monitored for 2 years starting in January 2012 in both watersheds. The change in the monthly runoff was estimated as the difference between measured and values calculated with the linear regression equation. Average monthly streamflows were about 19, 15 and 10 mm in the control and 21, 20, and 11 mm in the treatment watersheds for calibration, first and second post-treatment periods, respectively. Paired watershed analysis showed that monthly streamflow did not significantly increase in either watershed for the first or the second year after the harvest. The results revealed that thinning intensity had to be greater to increase water yield significantly in this forest ecosystem and the threshold value for a streamflow increase was greater than 18 % for this region.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bari MA, Smith N, Ruprecht JK, Boyd BW (1996) Changes in streamflow components following logging and regeneration in the southern forest of Western Australia. Hydrol Process 10(3):447–461

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bosch JM, Hewlett JD (1982) A review of catchment experiments to determine the effect of vegetation change on water yield and evapotranspiration. J Hydrol 55:3–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Branson FA, Gifford GF, Renard KG, Hadley RF (1981) Rangeland hydrology, second ed. Range Science Series No: 1. Society for Range Management, Denver, Colorado

  • Brown AE, Zhang L, McMahon TA, Western AW, Vertessy RA (2005) A review of paired catchment studies for determining changes in water yield resulting from alterations in vegetation. J Hydrol 310:28–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caissie D, Jolicoeur S, Bouchard M, Poncet E (2002) Comparison of stream water between pre and post timber harvesting in Catamaran Brook (Canada). J Hydrol 258(1–4):232–248

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dung BX, Gomi T, Miyata S, Sidle RC, Kosugi K, Onda Y (2012) Runoff responses to forest thinning at plot and catchment scales in a headwater catchment draining Japanese cypress forest. J Hydrol 444–445:51–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hibbert AR (1967) In: Sopper WE, Lull HW (eds) Forest treatment effects on water yield, Proceedings of the International Symposium on Forest Hydrology. Permagon Press, New York, pp. 527–543

    Google Scholar 

  • Hubbart JA, Link TE, Gravelle JA, Elliot WJ (2007) Timber harvest impacts on water yield in the Continental/Maritime hydroclimatic region of the United States. For Sci 53(2):169–180

    Google Scholar 

  • Keppeler E, Ziemer RR (1990) Logging effects on streamflow: water yield and summer low flows at Caspar Creek in northwestern California. Water Resour Res 26(7):1669–1679

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lane PNJ, Mackay SM (2001) Streamflow response of mixed-species eucalypt forests to patch cutting and thinning treatments. For Ecol Manag 143:131–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lesch W, Scott DF (1997) The response in water yield to the thinning of Pinus radiata, Pinus patula, Eucalyptus grandis plantations. For Ecol Manag 99:295–307

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis D, Singer MJ, Dahlgren RA, Tate KW (2000) Hydrology in a California oak woodland watershed: a 17-year study. J Hydrol 240:106–117

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neary DG, Ice GG, Jackson CR (2009) Linkages between forest soils and water quality and quantity. For Ecol Manag 258:2269–2281

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neris J, Tejedor M, Rodríguez M, Fuentes J, Jiménez C (2013) Effect of forest floor characteristics on water repellency, infiltration, runoff and soil loss in Andisols of Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain. Catena 108:50–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Núñez D, Nahuelhual L, Oyarzún C (2006) Forests and water: the value of native temperate forests in supplying water for human consumption. Ecol Econ 58:606–616

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Özhan S (1977) Variation in Some Hydrologic Properties of Forest Floor as Related to Certain Environmental Factors in Ortadere Watershed of Belgrad Forest, Istanbul University, Faculty of Forestry Publication Number: 235, Istanbul (in Turkish)

  • Özhan S, Balcı AN, Özyuvaci N, Hızal A, Gökbulak F, Serengil Y (2005) Cover and management factors for the universal soil-loss equation for forest ecosystems in the Marmara region, Turkey. For Ecol Manag 214:118–123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Özhan S, Hızal A, Şengönül K, Gökbulak F, Serengil Y, Özcan M (2008) Hydrological and hydrochemical modeling of watershed systems in Belgrad Forest. Unpublished research project report (supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) with a grant number of TOVAG - 105 0182)

  • Özhan S, Gökbulak F, Serengil Y, Özcan M (2010) Evapotranspiration from a mixed deciduous forest ecosystem. Water Resour Manag 24(10):2353–2363

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Özyuvacı N (1999) Meteorology and Climatology, Istanbul University Publications No. 4196, Istanbul (in Turkish)

  • Özyuvacı N, Özhan S, Gokbulak F, Serengil Y, Balcı AN (2004) Effect of selective cutting on stream water in an oak-beech forest ecosystem. Water Resour Manag 18:249–262

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sahin V, Hall MJ (1996) The effects of afforestation and deforestation on water yields. J Hydrol 178:293–309

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Serengil Y, Gökbulak F, Özhan S, Hızal A, Şengönül K, Balcı AN, Özyuvacı N (2007) Hydrological impacts of a slight thinning treatment in a deciduous forest ecosystem in Turkey. J Hydrol 333:569–577

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stednick JD (1996) Monitoring the effects of timber harvest on annual water yield. J Hydrol 176:79–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suryatmojo H, Masamitsu F, Kosugi K, Mizuyama T (2013) Effects of selective logging methods on runoff characteristics in paired small headwater catchment. Procedia Environ Sci 17:221–229

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swank WT, Vose JM, Elliot KJ (2001) Long term hydrologic and water quality responses following commercial clear cutting of mixed hardwoods on a southern Appalachian catchment. For Ecol Manag 143:163–178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Troendle CA, King RM (1985) The effect of timber harvest on the Fool creek watershed, 30 years later. Water Resour Res 21(12):1915–1922

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Troendle CA, Wilcox MS, Bevenger GS, Porth LS (2001) The Coon creek water yield augmentation project: implementation of timber harvesting technology to increase streamflow. For Ecol Manag 143:179–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsiko CT, Makurira H, Gerrits AMJ, Savenije HHG (2012) Measuring forest floor and canopy interception in a savannah ecosystem. Phys Chem Earth 47–48:122–127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • USDA (Unites States of Department of Agriculture) (1996) Keys to Soil Taxonomy, seventh ed. Washington, DC

  • Viola MR, Mello CR, Beskow S, Norton LD (2014) Impacts of land-use changes on the hydrology of the Grande River Basin headwaters, Southeastern Brazil. Water Resour Manag 28:4537–4550

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watson F, Vertessy R, McMahon T, Rhodes B, Watson I (2001) Improved methods to assess water yield changes from paired-catchment studies: application to the Maroondah catchments. For Ecol Manag 143:189–204

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yaltırık F (1966) Floristic Analysis of Belgrad Forest and Main Stand Composition, General Directorate of Forestry Publication Number: 6, Ankara, Turkey (in Turkish)

  • Yao Y, Cai T, Ju C, He C (2015) Effect of reforestation on annual water yield in a large watershed in Northeast China. J For Res 26(3):697–702

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zar JH (1996) Biostatistical analysis, 3rd edn. Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeppel MJB, Macinnis-Ng CMO, Yunusa IAM, Whitley RJ, Eamus D (2008) Long term trends of stand transpiration in a remnant forest during wet and dry years. J Hydrol 349:200–213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang X, Yu GQ, Li ZB, Li P (2014) Experimental study on slope runoff, erosion and sediment under different vegetation types. Water Resour Manag 28:2415–2433

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. A. Nihat Balcı, Dr. Selman Uslu, and Dr. Necdet Özyuvacı from Istanbul University, Faculty of Forestry, Department of Watershed Management for their efforts in construction of the streamflow measurement facilities, Dr. Pete Gomben from US Forest Service for reviewing the initial draft of the paper and Lauren Svejcar from New Mexico State University for her valuable suggestions. This study was partly supported by TUBİTAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) with a grant number of TOVAG-105 0 182.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Forestry, Department of Watershed Management, Istanbul University, Bahçeköy, 34473, İstanbul, Turkey

    Ferhat Gökbulak, Kamil Şengönül, Yusuf Serengil, Süleyman Özhan, İbrahim Yurtseven, Betül Uygur & Mehmet Said Özçelik

Authors
  1. Ferhat Gökbulak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kamil Şengönül
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yusuf Serengil
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Süleyman Özhan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. İbrahim Yurtseven
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Betül Uygur
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Mehmet Said Özçelik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ferhat Gökbulak.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Gökbulak, F., Şengönül, K., Serengil, Y. et al. Effect of Forest Thinning on Water Yield in a Sub-Humid Mediterranean Oak-Beech Mixed Forested Watershed. Water Resour Manage 30, 5039–5049 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-016-1467-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-016-1467-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation