Seeps, Intermittent Streams and Pools
Only recently have forest managers begun to pay much attention to the management and protection of seeps, intermittent streams and woodland pools. In the past, management activities such as harvesting or trail construction have negatively affected this critical wildlife habitat. Fortunately, as more information becomes available, and as we become more aware of the need to conserve these important habitat features, our management activities are changing in an effort to provide much-needed protection to this important part of our forests.
Seeps, intermittent streams and woodland pools are an important part of our forest ecosystem because they often contain rare and uncommon species such as ginseng or two-lined salamanders. They also maintain or influence the level of water of adjacent wetlands, contribute to the water quality of our waterways and provide important habitat for many aquatic and terrestrial species.
Just what are seeps, intermittent streams and woodland pools? How can you identify these features in your woodlot? How can you conserve these important natural features? Read on to learn more.
Seeps
Seeps (or seepage areas) are small areas where groundwater discharges slowly; the soil will remain saturated for much of the growing season. The water flowing from a seep is true groundwater, not surface runoff, and its temperature will generally remain relatively constant year-round. Seeps are typically found along lower slopes and are very susceptible to soil compaction and rutting from vehicles such as ATVs or from logging equipment.
These areas are valuable wildlife habitat in the spring. They are the first areas to green up and are a critical food source at a time of year when most other winter food sources have been depleted. Seeps also serve an important role as a filter for trout streams by helping to maintain cooler water temperatures.
In addition, seeps provide important food sources such as vegetation and insects that might not be available as part of the surrounding upland forest habitat. This food source is important for a number of species of amphibians, reptiles and birds.
Intermittent Streams
Intermittent streams generally contain water at times during the year, but generally flow for less than nine months a year. The flow from an intermittent stream can be influenced by a number of factors, including those caused by both natural and human elements. For example, if the stream is located above the water table it will lack a continuous presence of groundwater. Human disruptions such as channeling and damming are all factors that will disrupt its flow.
Intermittent streams are generally characterized by a poorly defined stream channel and are often not associated with significant fish habitat because they are either too shallow, have too little oxygen or run dry partway through the year. However, since these types of streams often form a high percentage of the overall channel system of a particular waterway, they contribute to its water quality. Negative impacts such as the input of sediment, water, woody debris and nutrients can affect the rest of the channel system and influence downstream ecosystems.
If you are looking for uncommon or rare species in your woodlot, you can often find them in the surrounding habitat of this natural feature. For example, in fresh to moist sites you may find ginseng or butternut, or the northern two-lined salamander.
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Woodland Pools
Woodland pools are temporary pools of water that generally appear in the spring (vernal pools) from snowmelt or heavy spring rains and sometimes also form in the fall of the year (autumnal pools). They are found in small depressions or swales in the forest and generally have no defined inlet or outlet. These pools are seasonal in nature and may be dry during some part of the growing season. During the dry season these depressions will be characterized as having a floor of matted and dark stained leaves, and sometimes waterline marks can be seen on the adjacent trees.
Vernal pools are important breeding and hibernating sites for forest amphibians. Because these temporary pools do not support fish populations, they provide excellent amphibian habitat that allows for amphibian eggs to develop without high losses due to fish predation.
A number of amphibian species depend on these vernal pools for all or portions of their life cycle. These species are referred to as obligate vernal pool species and include the wood frog, spotted salamander and blue-spotted salamander. Other species, such as the spring peeper, pickerel frog and the red-spotted newt, referred to as facultative vernal species, use vernal pools for all or portions of their life cycle, but are able to successfully complete their life cycles in other water bodies.
Large pools are generally more valuable habitat than smaller ones. They tend to retain water longer, thus supporting a greater diversity and abundance of amphibians. Research undertaken in Algonquin Park suggests that a pool with surface area greater than 200 m2 will generally remain around for at least two months. According to wildlife experts, this is long enough to be considered valuable to wildlife.
Management Practices
The most important management practice is to protect these features from activities that could degrade the integrity of the site. For example, keep roads, skid trails and ATVs out of these areas, maintain adequate canopy closure (shade) over these sites and do not undertake heavy cutting in or adjacent to these features.
As a landowner, knowing where these features are located in your woodlot is an important first step. A good idea would be to map their locations for future reference. Knowing the location of seeps, intermittent streams and pools will help you to plan future management work such as harvesting or road or trail construction.
The new Ontario Tree Marking Guide, published by the Ministry of Natural Resources, provides some excellent general guidelines for the protection of these features. Here are their recommendations:
