Assessing Effects of Peat Mining, Peatland Forestry and Natural Peatland to Water Quality Using Continuous Monitoring Stations

Authors:
Högmander, P. & Saari, P.

Book:
Proceedings of the 14th International Peat Congress

Venue:
Stockholm

Keywords:
doc, key-words-peatland, peat-mining, peatland-forestry, water-quality

Documentfile:
Högmander, Saari 2012: Assessing Effects of Peat Mining, Peatland Forestry and Natural Peatland to Water Quality Using Continuou

Summary:

Theme I.  Inventory, stratigraphy and conservation of mires and peatlands

SUMMARY

Impact of peat mining to water quality may be locally significant. Especially, the loads of nutrients, suspended solids and humic substances to the water system may be remarkable.
In a 3-year project TASO we investigate the load to the water system caused by peat harvesting and peatland forestry and the effects of several water protection activities. To this end we apply continuously monitoring stations collecting data of water flow, COD, DOC and suspended solid via turbidity measurements. In addition, we take manual water samples to measure the nutrient loads. Water quality changes caused by peat mining and peatland forestry are compared to the water quality at a control site located in a natural peatland. The monitoring started in November 2011 and it continues to the end of 2013. The first preliminary results are shown in our presentation.