Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A synthesis of the impacts of ditch network maintenance on the quantity and quality of runoff from drained boreal peatland forests

  • Review
  • Published:
Ambio Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Drained peatlands are an important source of forest biomass in boreal regions and ditch network maintenance (DNM) operations may be needed to restore the drainage functions of ditches. By reviewing the available literature, as well as utilizing an existing hydrological model and analyzing the characteristics of eroded sediments, we assessed the impacts of DNM on runoff and exports of suspended solids (SS), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P). In general, DNM had minor impact on runoff and dissolved N and P, and it decreased rather than increased DOC exports. To increase the understanding of the hydrochemical impacts of DNM, future research should focus on the characteristics of SS and particulate nutrient exports. A major gap in knowledge is also the very limited regional representativeness of the available studies. High erosion risk in the ditches reaching the mineral soil below peat should be acknowledged when planning mitigation measures.

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

  • Ahti, E. 1987. Water balance of drained peatlands on the basis of watertable simulation during the snowless period. Communicationes Instituti Forestalis Fenniae 141. 64 pp.

  • Ahtiainen, M. 1990. The effects of clearcutting and forestry drainage on water quality of forest brooks. Vesi- ja Ympäristöhallinnon julkaisuja—sarja A 45. 122 pp. (in Finnish, English summary).

  • Åström, M., E.-K. Aaltonen, and J. Koivusaari. 2001a. Impact of ditching in a small forested catchment on concentrations of suspended material, organic carbon, hydrogen ions and metals in stream water. Aquatic Geochemistry 57: 57–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Åström, M., E.-K. Aaltonen, and J. Koivusaari. 2001b. Effect of ditching operations on stream-water chemistry in a boreal catchment. Science of the Total Environment 279: 117–129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Åström, M., E.-K. Aaltonen, and J. Koivusaari. 2002. Impact of forest ditching on nutrient loadings of a small stream - a paired catchment study in Kronoby, W. Finland. Science of the Total Environment 297: 127–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Åström, M., E.-K. Aaltonen, and J. Koivusaari. 2004. Changes in leaching patterns of nitrogen and phosphorus after artificial drainage of a boreal forest—a paired catchment study in Lappajärvi, western Finland. Boreal Environment Research 10: 67–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baken, S., I.C. Regelink, R.N.J. Comans, E. Smolders, and G.F. Koopmans. 2016. Iron-rich colloids as carriers of phosphorus in streams: A field-flow fractionation study. Water Research 99: 83–90. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2016.04.060.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bergquist, J., S. Edlund, C. Fries, S. Gunnarsson, P. Hazell, L. Karlsson, A. Lomander, P. Näslund, et al. 2016. Knowledge platform for forest production—The state of the forest, problems and possible solutions and actions. Skogsstyrelsen, Meddelande 1. Jönköping. 132 pp. (in Swedish).

  • Bilotta, G.S., and R.E. Braziera. 2008. Understanding the influence of suspended solids on water quality and aquatic biota. Water Research 42: 2849–2861. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2008.03.018.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Finér, L., T. Mattsson, S. Joensuu, H. Koivusalo, A. Laurén, T. Makkonen, M. Nieminen, S. Tattari, et al. 2010. A method for calculating nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment load from forested catchments. Suomen ympäristö 10/2010. 33 pp. (in Finnish).

  • Good forest management recommendations for peatlands. 2007. Metsätalouden kehittämiskeskus Tapio. Metsäkustannus Oy, Helsinki. 51 pp. (in Finnish).

  • Grybos, M., M. Davranche, G. Gruau, P. Petitjean, and M. Pédrot. 2009. Increasing pH drives organic matter solubilization from wetland soils under reducing conditions. Geoderma 154: 13–19. doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2009.09.001.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haahti, K., H. Marttila, L. Warsta, T. Kokkonen, L. Finér, and H. Koivusalo. 2016. Modeling sediment transport after ditch network maintenance of a forested peatland. Water Resources Research 52: 9001–9019. doi:10.1002/2016WR019442.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hansen, K., V. Kronnäs, T. Zetterberg, M. Zetterberg, F. Moldan, P. Petterson, and J. Munthe. 2013. The effects of ditch cleaning on runoff, water chemistry and botany fauna in forest ecosystems. Rapport. IVL Svenska Miljöinstitutet AB. 108 pp. (in Swedish).

  • Hynninen, A., S. Sarkkola, A. Laurén, H. Koivusalo, and M. Nieminen. 2011. Capacity of riparian buffer areas to reduce ammonium export originating from ditch network maintenance areas in peatlands drained for forestry. Boreal Environment Research 16: 430–444.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hynninen, P., and P. Sepponen. 1983. The effect of drainage on the quality of brook water in the Kiiminki river basin, northern Finland. Silva Fennica 17: 23–43. (in Finnish, English summary).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joensuu, S. 2013. Hydrological and hydrochemical impacts of ditch network maintenance. TASO-hanke—Kunnostusojituksen vesiensuojelupäivä Jyväskylässä 16.4.2013. (in Finnish). 1 pp.

  • Joensuu, S., E. Ahti, and M. Vuollekoski. 1999. The effects of peatland forest ditch maintenance on suspended solids in runoff. Boreal Environment Research 4: 343–355.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joensuu, S., E. Ahti, and M. Vuollekoski. 2001. Long-term effects of maintaining ditch networks on runoff quality. Suo 2001: 17–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joensuu, S., E. Ahti, and M. Vuollekoski. 2002. Effects of ditch network maintenance on the chemistry of run-off water from peatland forests. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 17: 238–247.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joensuu, S., M. Vuollekoski, and K. Karosto. 2006. Long-term water quality impacts of ditch network maintenance. In: Metsätalouden vesistökuormitus. MESUVE-projektin loppuraportti, ed. K. Kenttämies, T. Mattsson, 83–90. Suomen ympäristö 816. (in Finnish).

  • Johnson, R. 1998. The forest cycle and low river flows: a review of UK and international studies. Forest Ecology and Management 109: 1–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaila, A., S. Sarkkola, A. Laurén, L. Ukonmaanaho, H. Koivusalo, L. Xiao, C. O’Driscoll, Z. Asam, et al. 2014. Phosphorus export from drained Scots pine mires after clear-felling and bioenergy harvesting. Forest Ecology and Management 325: 99–107. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2014.03.025.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koivusalo, H., E. Ahti, A. Laurén, T. Kokkonen, T. Karvonen, R. Nevalainen, and L. Finér. 2008. Impacts of ditch cleaning on hydrological processes in a drained peatland forest. Hydrology and Earth System Science 12: 1211–1227. doi:10.5194/hess-12-1211-2008.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lappalainen, M., H. Koivusalo, T. Karvonen, and A. Laurén. 2010. Sediment transport from a peatland forest after ditch network maintenance: A modelling approach. Boreal Environment Research 15: 595–612.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laurén, A., J. Heinonen, H. Koivusalo, S. Sarkkola, S. Tattari, T. Mattsson, M. Ahtiainen, S. Joensuu, et al. 2009. Implications of uncertainty in pre-treatment dataset on estimation of treatment effects from paired catchment studies: loads of phosphorus from forest clear-cuts. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 196: 251–261. doi:10.1007/s11270-008-9773-1.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lundin, L., and B. Bergquist. 1990. Effects on water chemistry after drainage of a bog for forestry. Hydrobiologia 196: 167–181.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Manninen, P. 1995. Hydrochemical and biological consequences of ditch network maintenance. In Metsätalouden vesistövaikutukset ja niiden torjunta, METVE-projektin loppuraportti, ed. S. Saukkonen, and K. Kenttämies, 169–181. Suomen ympäristö 2. (in Finnish).

  • Manninen, P. 1998. Effects of forestry ditch cleaning and supplementary ditching on water quality. Boreal Environment Research 3: 23–32.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marttila, H., and B. Kløve. 2008. Erosion and delivery of deposited peat sediment. Water Resources Research 44: W06406. doi:10.1029/2007WR006486.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marttila, H., and B. Kløve. 2010a. Dynamics of erosion and suspended sediment transport from drained peatland forestry. Journal of Hydrology 388: 414–425. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2010.05.026.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marttila, H., and B. Kløve. 2010b. Managing runoff, water quality and erosion in peatland forestry by peak runoff control. Ecological Engineering 36: 900–911. doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2010.04.002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marttila, H., M.L. Nieminen, J. Ärje, K. Meissner, T. Tuukkanen, J. Saukkoriipi, and B. Kløve. 2016. Dynamics and temporal changes in suspended sediment transport in Northern Finland: Transport of very fine particulate matter. Boreal Environment Research 21: 541–555.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marttila, H., K.-M. Vuori, H. Hökkä, J. Jämsen, and B. Kløve. 2010. Framework for designing and applying peak runoff control structures for peatland forestry conditions. Forest Ecology and Management 260 (8): 1262–1273. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2010.06.032.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nieminen, M., and E. Ahti. 1993. Leaching of nutrients from an ombrotrophic peatland area after fertilizer application on snow. Folia Forestalia 814. 22 pp. (in Finnish, English summary).

  • Nieminen, M., and T. Penttilä. 2004. Inorganic and organic phosphorus fractions in peat from drained mires in northern Finland. Silva Fennica 38: 243–251.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nieminen, M., E. Ahti, H. Koivusalo, T. Mattsson, S. Sarkkola, and A. Laurén. 2010. Export of suspended solids and dissolved elements from peatland areas after ditch network maintenance in south-central Finland. Silva Fennica 44: 39–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paavilainen, E., and J. Päivänen. 1995. Peatland forestry. Ecology and Principles. Berlin: Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Päivänen, J. 1973. Hydraulic conductivity and water retention in peat soils. Acta Forestalia Fennica 129. 70 pp.

  • Päivänen, J., and B. Hånell. 2012. Peatland Ecology and Forestry—a Sound Approach. University of Helsinki Department of Forest Sciences Publications 3. 267 pp.

  • Palviainen, M., and L. Finér. 2013. The effect of ditch network maintenance of organic carbon exports to receiving water courses. Jyväskylä, Kopijyvä Oy. 47 pp. (in Finnish).

  • Prévost, M., A.P. Plamondon, and P. Belleau. 1999. Effects of drainage of a forested peatland on water quality and quantity. Journal of Hydrology 214: 130–143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rantakari, M., T. Mattsson, P. Kortelainen, S. Piirainen, L. Finér, and M. Ahtiainen. 2010. Organic and inorganic carbon concentrations and fluxes from managed and unmanaged boreal first-order catchments. Science of the Total Environment 408: 1649–1658. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.12.025.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saari, P., and P. Högmander. 2013. Water conservation project for forestry and peat production—TASO. Metsätieteen aikakauskirja 2: 167–172. (in Finnish).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarkkola, S., H. Hökkä, H. Koivusalo, M. Nieminen, E. Ahti, J. Päivänen, and J. Laine. 2010. Role of tree stand evapotranspiration in maintaining satisfactory drainage conditions in drained peatlands. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 40: 1485–1496. doi:10.1139/X10-084.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarkkola, S., H. Hökkä, E. Ahti, M. Nieminen, and H. Koivusalo. 2012. Depth of water table prior to ditch network maintenance is a key factor for tree growth response. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 27. 10 pp. doi:10.1080/02827581.2012.689004.

  • Sarkkola, S., M. Nieminen, H. Koivusalo, A. Laurén, E. Ahti, S. Launiainen, E. Nikinmaa, H. Marttila, et al. 2013. Domination of growing-season evapotranspiration over runoff makes ditch network maintenance in mature peatland forests questionable. Mires and Peat 11: 1–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sikström U., and H. Hökkä. 2016. Interactions between soil water conditions and forest stands in boreal forests with implications for ditch network maintenance. Silva Fennica 50. 29 pp. doi:10.14214/sf.1416.

  • Sirin, A., S. Vompersky, and N. Nazarov. 1991. Influence of forest drainage on runoff: Main concepts and examples from central part of the USSR European Territory. Ambio 20: 334–339.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stenberg, L., T. Tuukkanen, L. Finér, H. Marttila, S. Piirainen, B. Kløve, and H. Koivusalo. 2015. Ditch erosion processes and sediment transport in a drained peatland forest. Ecological Engineering 75: 421–433. doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.11.046.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tamminen, P., and E. Mälkönen. 1999. Sampling for determining the properties of forest soils. Metsäntutkimuslaitoksen tiedonantoja 729. 47 pp. (in Finnish).

  • Tuukkanen, T., H. Koivusalo, H. Marttila, A. Leinonen, B. Kløve, A. Lauren, and L. Finér. 2012. A GIS-based model for ditch erosion risk assessment in peatland forestry. Erosion and Sediments Yields in the Changing Environment (Proceedings of a symposium held at the Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, CAS-Chengdu, China, 11–15 October 2012) IAHS Publ. 356: 221–227.

  • Tuukkanen, T., H. Marttila, and B. Kløve. 2014. Effect of soil properties on peat erosion and suspended sediment delivery in peat extraction sites. Water Resources Research 50: 3523–3535. doi:10.1002/2013WR015206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tuukkanen, T., L. Stenberg, L. Finér, H. Marttila, S. Piirainen, H. Koivusalo, and B. Kløve. 2016. Erosion mechanisms and sediment sources in a peatland forest after ditch cleaning. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 41: 1841–1853. doi:10.1002/esp.3951.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The WAMBAF (Water Management in Baltic Forests) project funded from the EU Baltic Sea Region Programme is acknowledged for providing funding.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Natural Resources Institute Finland, Viikinkaari 4, 00790, Helsinki, Finland

    Mika Nieminen & Sakari Sarkkola

  2. Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014, Helsinki, Finland

    Marjo Palviainen

  3. Natural Resources Institute Finland, P.O. Box 68, 80101, Joensuu, Finland

    Ari Laurén & Leena Finér

  4. Water Resources and Environmental Engineering Research Unit, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 4300, 90014, Oulu, Finland

    Hannu Marttila

Authors
  1. Mika Nieminen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Marjo Palviainen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sakari Sarkkola
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ari Laurén
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Hannu Marttila
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Leena Finér
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mika Nieminen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Nieminen, M., Palviainen, M., Sarkkola, S. et al. A synthesis of the impacts of ditch network maintenance on the quantity and quality of runoff from drained boreal peatland forests. Ambio 47, 523–534 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-017-0966-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-017-0966-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation