Erosion and Sediment Transport Dynamics in Drained Peatland Forest: A Case Study at Koivupuro Catchment, Eastern Finland

Authors:
Leena Stenberg, Tapio Tuukkanen, Harri Koivusalo, Hannu Marttila, Sirpa Piirainen, Björn Klöve, Leena Finér

Book:
Proceedings of the 14th International Peat Congress

Venue:
Stockholm

Keywords:
catchment, drainage, erosion, modeling, suspended-solids

Documentfile:
Stenberg et al 2012: Erosion and Sediment Transport Dynamics in Drained Peatland Forest: A Case Study at Koivupuro Catchment, Ea

Summary:

Theme VII. Ecology and management on forested peatlands

SUMMARY

Ditch network maintenance at peatland forest areas leads to erosion and transport of suspended solids to water courses. The aim of this study is to explore how sediment load is generated within maintained drainage areas. This task is tackled by setting up experiments at Koivupuro catchment, located in Eastern Finland, which has been studied since the initial ditching in 1980s. During the summer of 2011 the ditches in the area were cleaned and a new nested study catchment was established inside the catchment. Both catchment outlets were instrumented with continuous water level and turbidity sensors. Basic hydrological monitoring and different in-situ methods to measure erosion and sediment transport at source areas are also applied and the properties of sediment studied with laboratory analyses.