Metla Project 3506

Prediction and mitigation of nutrient and sediment load from forested catchments: Development of FEMMA-computation tool

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Duration: 2008-2012   Keywords: GIS, catchment, ditch network maintenance, final cutting, groundwater, hydrology, loading, mathematical models, nitrogen, phosphorous, runoff, snow, suspended solids
Research project group:

Objectives

Forests have a big impact on water and nutrient fluxes and export to groundwater and surface waters. Forest management practices such as clear-cutting, soil preparation, fertilization, drainage and prescribed burning increase export of elements (i.e. element load) into water courses. The load can be harmful especially for the water quality of small brooks, ponds and lakes that do not receive other load caused by human activities. Different protective measures have been developed to decrease the element load. Calculation tools have been developed for estimating the element loads caused by different forest management practices and the effectiveness of different protective measures. Further development of these tools is needed.

The aim of this project is to co-ordinate the use of computation tools for assessing the element load caused by different forest management practices, and for assessing effectiveness of different protective measures; and to develop these tools. The project has three subprojects with specific aims: 1) National and regional calculation tools The aim is to update and develop tools for producing national and regional estimates of element loads caused by forestry practices. During the three years of the project the specific load estimates of different forestry operations will be updated and a new version of the calculation tool will be developed. 2) FEMMA- modelling tool The aim is to further develop FEMMA - a process based calculation tool for small catchments. The present version simulates water and nitrogen fluxes, and during the project we will include the calculation of suspended solids and phosphorus in the model. 3) Acquisition of experimental data needed for the development of the calculation tools The aim is to collect data to enable improvements in the description of snow accumulation and melt as well as the nitrogen mineralization processes in soil in the FEMMA –model. VALU-project: The Effects of Forest Harvesting and Soil Scarification on Catchment Water and Nutrient Fluxes.

Project leader: Finér, Leena
The Finnish Forest Research Institute, Joensuu Office, PO Box 68 (Yliopistokatu 6), FI-80101 JOENSUU, FINLAND
Phone: +358 29 532 3067
E-mail: leena.finer@metla.fi

Other researchers: Hökkä, Hannu, RO (2012), Kaila, Annu (2009), Koivusalo, Harri (2008-09), Koskela, Merja-Leena, VA (2012), Lappalainen, Mari (2008-12), Launiainen, Samuli, JO (2010-12), Lauren, Ari, JO (2008-12), Nieminen, Mika, VA (2012), Piirainen, Sirpa, JO (2008-12), Pyy, Veera (2010), Ruokolainen, Maija, VA (2008,2010), Sarkkola, Sakari, JO (2012), Vuollekoski, Martti, VA (2010-12)


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Updated 02.02.2013
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