Floodplain forests directly influence water quality by serving as sinks, sources,
or transformers of nutrients. Increases in the demand for timber raise the question
of how silvicultural disturbance may affect this function. The objective of
this research was to compare biogeochemical relationships between undisturbed
vs. disturbed conditions in a floodplain forest. A randomized complete block
design consisting of three blocks and two treatments (partial harvest and undisturbed)
was installed on the Flint River floodplain, Georgia. The partial cut was conducted
during September-October 1993. Automated water samplers were situated to sample
during flood events as sheetflow entered and exited treatment plots during the
1994, 1995 and 1996 flood seasons. Pre- vs. post-contact comparisons indicated
that the undisturbed floodplain has minimal influence on water chemistry at
this scale of measurement. Although the partial harvest on an 8-ha scale had
minimal effect upon sheetflow water chemistry for three years following harvest,
the data suggest that harvests may stimulate a minor increase in Ca and K sink
activity.