Canadian Forest Service Publications

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Abstract

Understanding the long-term effects of forest harvesting on water resources is important in the development of sustainable forest management practices. Scientists have been monitoring many physical and biological variables at the Turkey Lakes Watershed (TLW) study area (approximately 60 km north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario), since its establishment in 1979. Such long-term monitoring is essential to our understanding of ecosystem processes and the short- and longterm effects of various disturbances. The study area was originally set up in response to concerns about the effects of acid rain and was the result of collaboration between three federal departments, namely Natural Resources Canada, Environment Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, with cooperation from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR). Over the years, TLW has also hosted many university-based researchers. The original and ongoing goal was to focus on understanding the processes controlling ecosystem response to human-caused disturbances. In addition to developing a further understanding of the impacts of acid rain and measuring the response to reductions in acid-causing emissions, the long-term monitoring data can be used to address current and emerging policy questions. A forest harvesting research trial was undertaken in 1997 in this relatively undisturbed mixed hardwood forest to evaluate the environmental effects of varying logging intensities. The effects on stream flow and water chemistry are outlined in this note.