Comparative impacts of fire and forest harvesting on water quality in Boreal Shield lakes

Abstract

Water quality was monitored in Boreal Shield lakes for 3 years following their simultaneous impact by clearcut logging or wildfire. Seventeen similar undisturbed lakes served as references. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and the light attenuation coefficient (εPAR) were up to threefold higher in cut lakes than in reference and burnt lakes. Compared with median values for reference lakes, cut and burnt lakes had higher concentrations of total phosphorus (TP) (two- to three-fold), total organic nitrogen (TON) (twofold), and K+, Cl-, and Ca2+ (up to sixfold). NO3- and SO42- concentrations were up to 60- and 6-fold higher, respectively, in burnt lakes than in reference and cut lakes. In most cases, impacts were directly proportional to the area harvested or burnt divided by the lake's volume or area. These simple models correctly predicted the changes observed in three lakes harvested during the study. Some of the ob served effects occur on different time scales. Mobile ions released by fire (K+, Cl-, SO42-, NO3-) or harvesting (K+, Cl-, some DOC) are rapidly flushed out of the watershed (50% decrease in 3 years). Other constituents or properties (TP, TON, DOC, εPAR, Ca2+, Mg2+) show little change or are still increasing after 3 years and will take a longer time to reach normal levels.