HYDROFOR
HYDROFOR
Assessment of the impacts of forest operations on the ecological quality of water
DOWNLOAD 2009 REPORT AS PDF (pdf 356Kb)
DOWNLOAD 2009 REPORT IN IRISH (pdf 355Kb)
PROJECT TEAM
Prof. Michael Bruen, University College Dublin
Dr Mary Kelly-Quinn, University College Dublin
Tom Drinan, University College Cork
Hugh Feeley, University College Dublin
Joanne Finnegan, National University of Ireland, Galway
Dr Conor Graham, University College Cork
Dr Simon Harrison, University College Cork
Dr Mark Healy, National University of Ireland, Galway
Gero Jahns, University College Dublin
Prof. John O'Halloran, University College Cork
John Regan, National University of Ireland, Galway
Dr Michael Rodgers, National University of Ireland, Galway
Martina Woods, University College Dublin
Sean Blacklocke, University College Dublin*
* Email: sean.blacklocke@ucd.ie
COMPLETION DATE: August 2013
BACKGROUND
HYDROFOR is an EPA- and COFORD-supported multi-sector co-operative project to investigate the impacts of forestry operations on Ireland's aquatic ecology. In addition to further investigating the nature and effects of these impacts, the study partners are assessing the effectiveness of certain measures such as riparian buffer strips to mitigate these impacts. Impacts under study include acidification, eutrophication, sedimentation and hydromorphological change. The HYDROFOR researchers' professions span the natural, engineering and social sciences.
OBJECTIVES
- Review relevant international and national literature.
- Compile a database of relevant data from previous similar projects and combine and analyse with HYDROFOR data.
- Undertake temporal and spatial assessment of the inputs from forest activities.
- Quantify nutrient and sediment losses to water in relation to the nature, scale and duration of forestry activities.
- Test the effectiveness of buffer strips as forestry mitigation measures.
- Evaluate the likely impact of expansion of forest cover in Ireland on hydro-ecology.
PROGRESS - Negative correlations between percent forest cover in catchments and ecological quality of waterways (invertebrates) have generally been shown, but outliers persist.
- Felling in lake catchments has shown clear and consistent impact of lake chemistry as indicated by elevated levels of nitrogen, phosphorous, dissolved organic carbon, reduced metals and lowered levels of dissolved oxygen.
- Multiple study sites across several study plots are now fully equipped to measure the effects of felling and effectiveness of riparian buffers and baseline conditions have been established.
- The preponderance of the most recent and relevant GIS data needed to make the most informed judgments about the cause-and-effect relationships between forestry operations and ecological quality of water in Ireland have been acquired and are being analysed with the most advanced tools available.
ACTIVITIES PLANNED - Set up instrumented catchment with FutMon Project.
- Select and finalise planting study sites.
- Continue monitoring of mature forestry sites.
- Select and commence sampling 2010 harvesting site.
- Complete plot instrumentation at Glennamong site.
- Complete plot instrumentation at Altaconey site.
- Collect pre-clearfelling data from Glennamong and Altaconey sites.
- Complete GIS characterisation of Glennamong and Altaconey sites.
- Complete water chemistry and invertebrate analysis for small lakes.
OUTPUTS - Maintenance of project website: www.ucd.ie/hydrofor/home.htm.
- HYDROFOR GIS Database (Draft).
Feeley, H. and Kelly-Quinn, M. HYDROFOR Literary Review. December 2009 (Draft).
Blacklocke, S. 2009. Development of Regression Models to Predict Forestry Impacts on Aquatic Ecology and Effectiveness of Mitigation Measures: The HYDROFOR Strategy. Presentation for the Environmental Sciences Association of Ireland's ENVIRON '09 Annual Conference, Waterford, Ireland.
Blacklocke, S. et al. 2009. Tapping old knowledge trees and growing new ones: the HYDROFOR Project strategy for developing predictive models of forest and water interactions in Ireland. Presentation and proceedings for the International Water Association's 13th International Specialized Conference on Diffuse Pollution and Sustainable Basin Management, Seoul, South Korea.
2008 report
download 2008 report as pdf (pdf 52Kb)
PROJECT TEAM
Steering committee
Prof. Ted Farrell, University College Dublin
Noel Foley, Forest Service
Dr Paddy Kavanagh, ESB International
Dr Tom Nisbet, Forestry Commission (UK)
Prof. Steve Ormerod, Cardiff University
Alistair Pfeifer, COFORD
Dr Alice Wemaere, Environmental Protection Agency
Principal investigators
Prof. Michael Bruen, University College Dublin
Dr Mary Kelly-Quinn, University College Dublin
Co-investigators
Reilly Dibner, National University of Ireland - Galway
Tom Drinan, University College Cork
Hugh Feeley, University College Dublin
Prof. John O'Halloran, University College Cork
Dr Simon Harrison, University College Cork
Dr Mark Healy, National University of Ireland - Galway
John Regan, National University of Ireland - Galway
Dr Michael Rogers, National University of Ireland - Galway
Advisors
Dr Julian Aherne, Trent University
Dr Thomas Cummins, University College Dublin
Dr Elvira de Eyto, Marine Institute
Dr Philip O'Dea, Coillte
Dr Russell Poole, Marine Institute
Liz Ryder, Marine Institute
Project manager
Sean Blacklocke, University College Dublin *
* Email: sean.blacklocke@ucd.ie
COMPLETION DATE: June 2013
BACKGROUND
HYDROFOR is a multi-disciplinary, multi-sector co-operative project to investigate the effects of forestry enterprises on Ireland's aquatic ecology and assess measures such as buffer strips to efficiently mitigate those effects. HYDROFOR will investigate the full range of forestry operations (i.e. planning and planting, maintenance, harvesting) and assess key associated mitigation measures to address acidification, sedimentation, eutrophication and hydromorphological impacts. Impacts will be analysed in selected catchments exhibiting high-risk pollutant source-receptor pathway conditions (e.g. peaty soils, high rainfall, steep slopes, etc.).
OBJECTIVES - Review the literature on forestry impacts on hydrochemistry, hydrology and ecology;
- Publish a review of this literature in an international forum;
- Assemble a database of relevant Irish data on forest surface water interactions;
- Collect hydrochemical, hydromorphological and ecological data from six catchments;
- Analyse data to establish controls and influences on impacts;
- Develop modelling tools to predict impacts and design control measures;
- Predict the future impact of forestry on hydro-ecology.
PROGRESS
All relevant literature and datasets (numeric and GIS) were collected, reviewed and organised into structured, query-friendly online databases.
Draft literature review(s) were undertaken on the full range of relevant topics, including: - Operations inherent to planting, maintenance and harvesting;
- Impacts including acidification, eutrophication, sedimentation and hydromorphological changes;
- Indicators of impacts, including various biological metrics (e.g. macroinvertebrate counts) and physico-chemical parameters (e.g. nitrate concentration measurements);
- High risk pollutant pathways, such as peaty soils, steep slopes and catchments with high precipitation levels;
- Measures to address these impacts, such as riparian buffers, forest restructuring and re-engineered drainage.
ACTIVITIES PLANNED - Complete literature review(s) and online literature portal.
- Document final detailed scope of work and schedule execution of work packages 2-7.
- Initiate field sampling and monitoring strategy.
- Establish and maintain the project web site (http://www.ucd.ie/hydrofor/home.htm)