Originally, forests covered almost all of the 7,000 square mile region, but today only about 18% is forested oswalt 20. Bottomland and swamp forests north carolina forest service. Bottomland forest is a deciduous, or mixed deciduousevergreen, closed. Due to the proximity to water, bottomland hardwood forests provide important nesting sites, food, and shelter for wood ducks and other migratory waterfowl. Defining characteristics of bottomland hardwoods forests despite the extensive study of bottomland hardwood forests in the southern united states, there is not a well defined set terms used to describe bottomland systems and the ecological zones which occur between the river channel and the upland environment. Usda forest service, bottomland hardwoods of the mississippi alluvial valley. While trees and plants in the bottomland hardwood forest cannot tolerate long periods of. In recent years, wildlife biologists working in mississippi alluvial valley bottomland hardwood habitat have collaborated with land managers and foresters to develop forest management recommendations that will sustain habitat beneficial to wildlife dependent on these bottomland forests. Bottomland hardwoods description school of forest resources.
Llsf bottomland hardwoods improved management practices acres under imp mgt public acres treated to improve or maintain existing bottomland hardwood forest on public lands. Hydrologic modifications challenge bottomland hardwood forest. Evaluating hardwood stands following storm damage 3. Added to this difficulty is that you must also consider the hardwood species need for survival and growth, which is based on site and soil. Bottomland hardwood ecosystems are also critical to recharging the ground water,filtering impurities from water draining from the land, and helping to control flood waters and erosion. Southern hardwood management university of illinois. Analysis of bottomland hardwood areas and assessment of. Larger bottomland forest tracts, particularly those in the active floodplain of the mississippi river, support increasing populations of black bear. They are occasionally flooded, which builds up the alluvial soils required for the gum, oak and bald cypress trees that typically grow in this type of biome. Recommendations to assist federal regulatory agencies in the. Silviculture and forest aesthetics handbook 72496 471 hb24315. The history of bottomland forest conservation and management in the mississippi alluvial valley mav is in many respects one of exploitation and conversion of an internationally significant forest resource to agricultural land uses. Bottomland hardwood forests are unique, differing from other forests in florida in many ways. When the bottomland hardwood community is found further north, it.
Characteristics of a bottomland hardwood forest under greentree reservoir management in ea characteristics of a bottomland hardwood forest under greentree reservoir management in east central arkansas this article is part of a. Management of bottomland hardwood forests for nongame bird communities on corps of. Roads roads can be detrimental or beneficial to turkeys, depending on management and protection. North central region bottomland hardwoods management guide. In addition, these wetlands improve water quality by filtering and flushing nutrients, processing organic wastes, and reducing sediment before it reaches open water. Four land cover types, bottomland hardwood, bottomland hardwood swamp, secondary bottomland hardwood, and willowsugarberry can be considered as forested wetland types, i. Silviculture and management strategies applicable to. Those reservoirs served a dual purpose, to mitigate floodwaters. Request pdf hydrologic modifications challenge bottomland hardwood forest management bottomland hardwoods are floodplain forests along rivers. As with many other habitat types, the value of bottomland forest to wildlife often increases with active management.
In addition to p sediment deposition, which can range from 1. Stakeholder attitudes toward reforestation and management of. There is much variety among bottomland hardwood forests, based on slope. These recommendations also apply where wildlife priorities are game. Added to this difficulty is that you must also consider the hardwood species need for survival and growth, which is based on site and soil conditions. Multispecies use of bottomland hardwood forests relative. Bottomland hardwood forest bottomland hardwood forest occurs on most sites within the floodplains and flats and in areas along river channels. Background and caveat wild turkey 20012011 raccoon 20072011. The property is occupied by a predominance of bottomland hardwood and or cypress trees except for recently harvested parcels. Stand composition the bottomland hardwood type is associated with flood plains and streamriver bottoms, primarily in the southern twothirds of wisconsin. Harvesting impacts on bottomland hardwood ecosystems 1819 may 1994 stoneville, ms, usa. Bottomland hardwood management speciessite relationships.
Longleaf stewardship fund 2020 request for proposals nfwf. North central region bottomland hardwood management guide. Bottomland hardwoods serve a critical role in the watershed by reducing the risk and severity of flooding to downstream communities by providing areas to store floodwater. Bottomland hardwoods management an ecological approach to bottomland hardwoods bottomland hardwood forests are floodplain forests that are periodically inundated or saturated during the growing season. Upland hardwood forest management guide sponsored by american tree farm system arkansas forestry association arkansas forestry association. Hydrologic modifications challenge bottomland hardwood. Effects of forest management on biogeochemical functions. The bline is based on the suggested residual stocking of putnam 1960 rather than on minimum full stocking.
Managing bottomland hardwoods natural resource enterprises. Forest management activities after forest composition, structure, and spatial hetereogeneity, thereby changing the composition. Forest management, water resources the sgsf water resources committee developed this general guidance document to assist environmental protection agency and other federal regulatory agency representatives in making field level distinctions between ongoing silviculture for bottomland hardwood and cypress swamps and other land. Introductioni n this chapter, we discuss the silviculture and management of upland and bottomland hardwoods in the southeastern united states. Bottomland hardwoods goelz 1995 provided a stocking guide for use in southern bottomland hardwoods. The difficulty in choosing the correct hardwood species is in part because of the large number of species. They are rich in ecological, cultural, and commercial benefits. Resilience of bottomland hardwood stands following. Located at the confluence of the wisconsin and lower lemonweir rivers, lemonweir bottomland hardwood forest is an expanse of floodplain forest of silver maple, river birch, green ash, swamp white oak, hackberry, and cottonwood. Without the proper hydrologic regime for the site condi.
Characteristics and management of natural function, structure, and composition pdf, 3. Flooded riverfront hardwood forests and bald cypress trees are frequently used as roost sites in the delta. The speciessite relationships discussed in this publication can help you make management decisions that could resolve or reduce conflicts over the use of bottomland hardwood resources. It also discusses management techniques, harvesting practices and techniques, and products extracted from hardwoods and their uses. One of the most valuable tools available for the management of southern bottomland hardwood forests is the tree classification scheme developed by john putnam putnam 1951, putnam et al. Bottomland hardwood forests, floodplain forests that are periodically inundated or saturated during the. Acres treated to improve or maintain existing bottomland hardwood forest on private lands. It occurs in floodplains along major rivers and streams, notably along the missouri and mississippi rivers. We begin by briefly describing the physiographic, edaphic, and climatic conditions for each forest type. In part two of this report, the mixed upland forest type is equivalent to the combination of pineoak forest and oakhickory forest types, and the mixed bottomland hardwood forest type is the combination of three types, hardwood pine forest, bottomland hardwood forest, and willowbirchwater elm forest frye and curtis 1990. Initial responses of woody vegetation, water quality, and soils to harvesting intensity in a texas bottomland hardwood ecosystem michael g.
This detailed 146page document covers multiple hardwood forest types, including bottomland hardwoods. Wetlands of bottomland hardwood forests, volume 11 1st edition. The stocking guide applies to mixed southern bottomland hardwoods of good to excellent site quality. Bottomland hardwood forest ecosystems bottomland hardwood forests located in tennessees mississippi coastal plain are a prominent ecosystem in the southeast. Forest management activities after forest composition, structure, and spatial hetereogeneity, thereby. Bottomland hardwood wetlands are forested wetlands comprised of trees, shrubs, broadleaf herbaceous plants, and grasses that withstand flooding of various depths, duration, and times.
Bottomland hardwoods are floodplain forests along rivers and streams throughout the southeastern united states. This is the predominant wetland type in the lower mississippi alluvial valley lmav. In tennessee, this ecosystem supports a unique forest community ofbald cypress, water tupelo, black gum, and numerous species ofoak. Pdf some avian species have been negatively impacted by forest loss, fragmentation, and hydrological change within bottomland forests. Management of moistsoil areas to provide habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds and other migratory birds. As the fields were developed, natural water courses were channelized and diverted. Ecological forestry practices for bottomland hardwood forests of. Red gum, so called by early loggers in the deep south for the red heartwood in old growth of this species, is one common name for sweetgum liquidambar styraciflua l.
Bottomland hardwoods are streamside forest trees such as oak, maple, ash, cypress, and tupelo that typically grow on lands prone to flooding. These areas are quite diverse and can accommodate a great variety of interests and uses. As an alluvial plain along the lower mississippi river, the deltas native habitat is bottomland hardwood forest. Unfortunately, they are exceptionally threatened by narrowlyfocused. One function of bottomland hardwood forests is provision of wildlife diversity and abundance. Characteristics of a bottomland hardwood forest under greentree reservoir management in ea characteristics of a bottomland hardwood forest under greentree reservoir management in east central arkansas this article is part of a larger document. Unimproved grassland native pasture bottomland hardwood forest pine plantation upland mixed pine hardwood forest oak woods riparian zone wetlandmarsh. Louisiana forest resources and bottomland hardwoods. Over time, and with experience, management and policy implications traditional forest management techniques in bottomland hardwood forests were developed in more recently and less intensely modified floodplains and were dependent upon broad correlations among hydrology, geo. By enrolling in the bottomland hardwood tree practice, landowners and farmers provide public benefits. Dams were con structed to impound areas as irrigation reservoirs. Scientists often consider a bottomland hardwood forest. In comparison to upland pine forests, bottomland forests typically have more complex vegetative structure greater variety in terms of the branching architecture of the plants. These forests are critically important to biodiversity, wildlife, carbon storage, recreation, and clean water in the south.
Harvesting impacts on bottomland hardwood ecosystems. Therefore, we do consider this type a bottomland forest. Usda, disturbance and the management of southern pine. The trees often develop unique characteristics to allow submergence, including cypress. There is much variety among bottomland hardwood forests, based on. Natural setting and vegetation of the florida panhandle an account. A special kind of bottomland forest is riverfront bottomland forest also called riparian forest, or just riverfront forest. Hardwood species selection is one of the most demanding forestry management tasks for private landowners and forest managers. Pdf management of bottomland hardwood forests for birds. P2004 bottomland hardwood management speciessite relationships. Additionally, regenerating and managing natural stands of bottomland hardwoods by kellison, martin, hansen and lea captures the fundamentals of southeastern bottomland hardwood forest management 1988.
Silviculture and management strategies applicable to southern. Bottomland and swamp forests photos courtesy of james slye bottomland and swamp forest cover types occupy a relatively small percentage of the forested area in the south. A cooperative project of the usda forest service and university of minnesota. A guide to bottomland hardwood restoration usgs publications. Bottomland hardwood forests are extremely important to wildlife, sportsmen, and recreational landowners in texas. The interrelations among hydrology, soils, geomorphic landforms, and tree species composition are the foundation of forest management in bottomland hardwoods, and historically their correspondence has allowed for somewhat predictable forest responses based upon the. Bottomland hardwood learning exchange forest stewards guild. Bottomland hardwoods wetlands protection and restoration. Bottomland hardwoods management forest stewards guild. In large expanses of pine plantation forest, turkey use is positively.
Glossary of terms pdf scientific and common names of native trees pdf forest. Expanding and coordinating private landowner technical assistance and outreach. Lemonweir bottomland hardwood forest state natural area. The interrelations among hydrology, soils, geomorphic landforms, and tree species composition are the foundation of forest management in bottomland hardwoods, and historically their correspondence has allowed for somewhat predictable forest. Management recommendations included forest practices that would improve working bottomland hardwood forest conditions with respect to issues such as enhancement of habitat for biodiversity, stand regeneration, and conservation of special habitats and ecotypes. Unfortunately, this ecosystem has been reduced by as much as 85 percent from forest clearing, conversion to farmland, and ditching and draining the wetlands. Northern hardwood pdf oak pdf aspen pdf paper birch pdf black walnut pdf swamp hardwood pdf bottomland hardwood pdf red maple pdf central hardwoods pdf iv. Managing bottomland hardwoods for deer a bears perspective maintain and promote mast. Usda forest service northern research station last modified. This process creates forests that lack many of the habitat features that benefit wildlife, such as large trees that could one day contain cavities, and the vigorous trees that could provide large quantities of mast. United states bottomland hardwoods of the agriculture.
Mature bottomland hardwood forests provide critical breeding habitat for a large number of bird species, many of which are of management concern according to the u. Characteristics of a bottomland hardwood forest under. The importance of bottomland hardwood forests for wildlife1 edis. A guide to bottomland hardwood restoration southern research. While you cannot master hardwood forest management in a lifetime, you can easily produce some valuable products while e4oying the wildlife, scenic vistas, and other natural resources. Envivaendowment working bottomland hardwood forest. Restoration and reforestation are approached with the realization that hydrology, as the driving force of wetland ecosystems, must be explicitly considered in all projects. It is a desired species due primarily to its large fruit used by many wildlife species. Additionally, previous management or lack of management and reduced role of fire has resulted in a need for management operations that will help restore the now shrinking oak component present in many hardwood stands in both bottomland and upland forests. The bottomland hardwood forest is a type of deciduous and evergreen hardwood forest found in us broad lowland floodplains along large rivers and lakes. Many bottomland hardwood forests were highgraded during the past century the larger trees of the most valuable species were removed. Responsible forest management of bottomland forests can be.
Purchase wetlands of bottomland hardwood forests, volume 11 1st edition. Placing cropland into ecologically diverse bottomland forests helps restore wetlands. These forests are subject to occasional scouring action of fastmoving floodwaters. Southern forested wetlands perform two important biogeochemical functions on the landscape. Multispecies use of bottomland hardwood forests relative to seral stage and forest management strategies. While trees and plants in the bottomland hardwood forest cannot tolerate long periods of flooding as in a swamp, they are flooded periodically when water levels rise.
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