Forest
Stewardship News Release
January
30, 2006- For Immediate Release
Contact: Allyson
Muth , Phone: 814-863-0401 E-mail: abm173@psu.edu
Spring Seeps
Written by: Jim Finley, 814-863-0401, fj4@psu.edu
Winter is a great time to find a touch of spring in your woods. Not the flowers and birds associated with the lengthening days at the end of winter. Rather, the water that bubbles up from springs and associated seeps often found in forests. These wetlands provide important and sometimes critical habitat for wildlife in the winter woods – they are a great place to look for wildlife signs in the winter landscape.
Springs occur where ground water reaches the surface and seeps are the associated saturated soil bordering and near the spring. In describing these forest features, we often tie them together and call them spring seeps. In much of Pennsylvania, groundwater that reaches the surface in spring seeps is quite warm, often 50 or more degrees in temperature. This warm water, for a short distance, melts or reduces snow cover, providing accessible water, habitat for insects, and makes seeds, some small plants or roots available for wildlife.
Spring seeps, when we have heavy snow cover throughout the winter, provide a respite for wildlife to benefit from the exposed food and water. As winter lingers and food becomes increasingly scarce, spring seeps can be especially critical. Near the end of winter when winter fat reserves are at their lowest, spring seeps often begin to green early providing needed food to many wildlife species.
If you are fortunate enough to have a spring seep on your woodlot, think about some careful management. Because they are important wetlands, any management around them requires in-depth planning. Many wildlife species forage for seeds in seeps. Therefore, managing for seed or mast producing trees above seeps is one consideration. Start by making a list of important seed producing trees and plant species in your woods. Then, as you consider your management actions think about how to improve light conditions for these plant species.
Hemlocks often occur near spring seeps. These trees provide important winter cover for many wildlife species. However, too much hemlock in the forest canopy above the seep may exclude light and allow the water to cool too quickly or reduce the number and variety of plant species that will begin to grow in the early spring. Removing some conifer cover over the seep may be an appropriate management activity. Strike a balance with conifer cover near the seep to benefit wildlife species as cover and to allow plants light to grow.
As you walk through your woods this winter be on the lookout for spring (seeps). Watch for the tracks in the snow and learn to enjoy these important refuges in the woods. If you want to improve them by careful management, plan your actions well and be cautious in your activities. For more information visit http://www.nwtf.org/conservation/bulletins/bulletin_20.pdf or call the Pennsylvania Forest Stewardship Program at 1-800 235 WISE (9743) and we will send you a copy.
The Pennsylvania Forest Stewardship Program provides publications on a variety of topics related to woodland management for private landowners. For a list of free publications, call 1-800-235-WISE (toll-free), send e-mail to , or write to: Forest Stewardship Program, Forest Resources Extension, The Pennsylvania State University, 320 Forest Resources Building, University Park, PA 16802. The Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry and USDA Forest Service, in partnership with the Penn State's Forest Resources Extension, sponsor the Forest Stewardship Program in Pennsylvania.
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