Evaluation of hydrologic restoration in the Alligator Swamp : a water balance approach / by Donald R. Belk.
| Author/creator | Belk, Donald R. author. |
| Other author | Phillips, Jonathan D., degree supervisor. |
| Other author | East Carolina University. Department of Geography and Planning. |
| Format | Theses and dissertations |
| Production | 1990. |
| Description | vi, 110 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm |
| Supplemental Content | Access via ScholarShip |
| Subjects |
| Summary | Measurement of the water balance is essential to evaluating the hydrologic component of a wetland ecosystem. Furthermore, water budgets can provide an estimation of inputs and outputs as a basis for predicting impacts to the wetland. This thesis attempts to evaluate the impact of hydrologic changes that occurred after the installation of drainage control structures in canals within the Alligator Swamp. Three categories of study sites were evaluated. The first category consisted of former Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) wetlands that were logged during the mid-1980s. These logging sites were denoted as "post-altered" because they were located within an area where drainage control structures and canal backfilling were being used to restore the hydrology to pre-disturbance conditions. The second category, "altered", consisted of similar logging sites where drainage canals remained unimpeded. The third category, an existing stand of white cedar, represented a "natural" area. Comparisons were made of the water balances from each category. Changes in soil moisture and water table elevation fluctuations were the components of the water balance measured in the field. The research goal was to determine whether the hydrologic regime in the post-altered area was more similar to the natural or to the altered study areas. A hydrologic model that forecasts changes in the water balance following artificial drainage was used in conjunction with the field measurements to assess the impact of the hydrologic restoration. Results of the model revealed that the hydrology of the post-altered area closely approximated that of the natural area. This was attributed to the model's incorporation of surface subsidence and the loss of surface moisture from drainage. However, results of the water balance measurements showed that no significant differences existed between the altered and post-altered sites. Abnormally high precipitation during the study period and the loss of drainage canal conveyance capacity were two factors responsible for the lack of differences between the two hydrologically-distinct study area. Furthermore, the loss of conveyance capacity resulting from the natural deterioration of drainage canals within the study area has led to the recovery of the natural hydrologic regime. |
| General note | Submitted to the faculty of the Department of Geography and Planning. |
| General note | Advisor: Jonathan D. Phillips |
| Dissertation note | M.A. East Carolina University 1990 |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 99-110). |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Thèses et écrits académiques. |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joyner | University Archives | ASK AT SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DESK | ✔ Available | Request Material |
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| Electronic Resources | ✔ Available |