Influences of riparian buffers and soil variability on the hydrology of seasonal wetlands in Northern Minnesota

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to determine what effect buffering seasonal ponds following harvest of adjacent upland forest has on pond hydrology; as well as to investigate soil morphology associated with these ponds. Study areas were established in north central Minnesota in 2000 and buffer treatments assigned randomly to ponds included: control, uncut buffer, partial buffer, and clearcut buffer. One year of pre-harvest and five years of post-harvest data was collected to examine hydrologic characteristics and distinguish any differences between buffer treatments. Soil texture and hydraulic conductivity was analyzed to determine the influence on formation of seasonal ponds on the landscape. The results suggest that it is possible to manipulate hydrologic characteristics in seasonal ponds following upland harvest based on the type of buffer treatment. The presence of both Bt horizon formation and lithologic discontinuity suggests seasonal pond formation can be attributed to both geogenic and pedogenic processes.