Small Streams, Seepages, and Woodland Pools

I'm learning a new bible: The Ontario Tree Marking Guide.

Here's a few words on the subject of water in the forest...

Woodland pools are small depressions that fill with spring melt-water but may be dry during some part of the growing season. They generally have no well defined inlet or outlet. During dry periods, they appear as a depression with matted leaves and water lines on trees (Kittredge and Parker 1996). Woodland pools are important breeding sites for many forest frogs. Seepage areas are important habitats for a variety of wildlife because they support a diversity of plant species and green-up early in spring. Intermittent streams are valuable habitat for some salamanders. They generally flow less than nine months of the year and are characterized by a poorly defined stream channel.

Woodland pools are important breeding habitat for many amphibians. frog) and salamanders (e.g., yellow-spotted salamander). Large woodland pools are generally more valuable than small ones since large pools last longer and subsequently tend to support a greater richness and abundance of breeding amphibians.

A woodland pool in Deerwood's hardwood compartment, 2009

Research from Algonquin Park suggests that pools with a surface area of about 200 m2 (approximately 20 metres x 10 metres) or more generally persist for at least two months, long enough to be considered valuable to wildlife (Kittredge and Parker 1996). This threshold may vary regionally. Forest management operations should be conducted in a manner that maintains the integrity of small streams, seepages, and woodland pools. Avoid marking trees that are within or right on the edge of small streams and large (>200 m2 surface area) seeps and woodland pools.

Moreover, within a tree length of large woodland pools, retain at least 50% stocking unless based on other biodiversity or habitat objectives. In parts of southern Ontario where forests are highly fragmented and large woodland breeding pools are relatively rare, this should be a no-cut buffer (OMNR 2000). When lower basal area (or a larger opening) is required to meet other biodiversity or habitat objectives (e.g., for regeneration of yellow birch or butternut), locate these areas on north or east sides of woodland pools.

Markers should map small streams that are not depicted on forest resource inventory maps and large seeps and woodland pools to help ensure that skid trails and landings can be located so they avoid these features. Reporting requirements should be outlined in a local data collection arrangement.

Source: Ontario Tree Marking Guide