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Hydrology and wetland conservation
379
Book Reviews
Notwithstanding the industry of the author and the care of the editor, minor irritations abound throughout the text. Some of these, sadly, are consistent, such as the unnecessary use of the apostrophe in reference to the 1960s and 1970s. There is an unusual mixture of English and American spelling in the text as well as occasional typographical errors; however, such minor blemishes in no way affect the reader's understanding of the text. This reviewer has no doubt that the monograph will have considerable appeal to a potentially enthusiastic audience.
S S D I 0022-1694(94)02631-9
J.S.G. McCULLOCH (Oxford, UK)
Hydrology and Wetland Conservation, by K. Gilman, Wiley, Chichester, 1994, hardcover, XII + 101 pp., £14.95, ISBN 0-471-95152-8. Wetlands are important components of the environment because they serve as wildlife habitat, store floodwaters, and improve water quality. Interest in preserving wetlands is gaining momentum around the World. This book investigates the aspects of wetland hydrology that are important for managing wetlands which could be affected by development. The basic premise of the book is that 'without a clear understanding of the hydrology of the site it is impossible to predict the effects of changes in adjoining land, to confirm the long-term viability of existing or created wetland, or to improve on the management of the land to increase its habitat value'. Wetlands in the UK are emphasized. The text includes five chapters entitled as follows: 1, Introduction; 2, Freshwater wetlands in the UK; 3, The wetland water balance; 4, Studying the wetland water balance by lysimetry; 5, Conclusions. The three page Introduction gives a brief overview of wetland preservation efforts in the UK. , Chapter 2 points out that freshwater wetlands in the UK consist of mainly marshes, fens, and bogs. Peat accumulates in the latter two types, but marshes consist primarily of mineral soil. Peat does not accumulate in marshes because the rapid movement of the oxygenated water promotes decomposition of plant tissue by worms and other organisms, and also brings in silt. This chapter discusses these processes in some detail using examples from specific wetlands around the UK. Much of Chapter 2 reviews seven wetlands (five fens and two bogs) whose hydrology is being monitored from extensive networks of wells. Water table data from these wetlands are used in subsequent chapters. The wetlands are 'peat-accumulators' and so most of the book is devoted to studying the hydrology of organic soils. Chapter 3 reviews the major components of the water balance and describes how each component can be measured. Aspects discussed include water inputs from rainfall, surface flows, and groundwater; outputs from evapotranspiration, surface flows, and groundwater flow; and the change in soil storage. The author believes that a wetland's hydrology can only be understood from data collected locally at the wetland of interest. Water table measurements are the most important type of information to collect. These data collected over time can be used to estimate the various
380
Book Reviews
components of the water balance such as the change in storage, loss by evapotranspiration, and inputs by lateral seepage of groundwater. While water table measurements are simple to make in principle, peat soils provide unique problems that must be overcome. A major problem is that the elevation of the peat surface changes seasonally. Well construction is discussed to show how wells should be installed so that changes in the peat surface can be measured. Chapter 4 is devoted to showing how lysimeters can be used to determine components of the water balance that cannot be found by simply measuring water levels at the site. A lysimeter is a block of soil that has been isolated by impermeable walls. Water levels inside and outside the block are monitored. The lysimeter is also equipped so that water can be pumped into the lysimeter to keep the water levels within it equal to those in the surrounding wetland. Methods for determining the evapotranspiration component of the water balance using lysimeters are discussed in detail. Chapter 5 reviews the material presented in the text. It is again brought out that to manage wetlands threatened by development, water level data have to be collected locally to assess how the wetland's hydrology is being affected by the development. Models can be used to an extent, but data collected at the site are preferred~ The discussion throughout the text uses relatively little mathematics, and anyone with some familiarity with calculus can understand virtually the entire text. Figures are used extensively and are dearly drawn. Approximately 70 references have been included which range in date from 1919 to 1991. The text is generally easy to read with a minimal use of jargon. The book is unique in at least two respects. First, it shows how water table levels can be used in the assessment of hydrology, rather than showing the power of hydrologic models. Using data from case studies, the author describes in detail how the analyses can be done by virtually anyone after an adequate set of water level data have been obtained. While the emphasis is on peat soils, the basic principles can be applied to mineral soils as well. Another strength of the book is that the author discusses some basic elements of wetland ecology from the standpoint of hydrology. The points made on how hydrology affects plants are not extensive, but such discussion is normally not found in texts on wetlands and I found the information instructive. This is not a textbook because the discussion is uneven. While basic principles of hydrology are mentioned, the author tends to dwell on practical problems encountered in studying the wetland water balance. These practical insights of the author are the book's real strengths. Anyone who intends to make water table measurements, particularly in peats, would probably find the book a good source of practical information.
S S D I 0022-1694(94)02647-5
MICHAEL J. VEPRASKAS (Raleigh, NC, USA)
Book Reviews
Notwithstanding the industry of the author and the care of the editor, minor irritations abound throughout the text. Some of these, sadly, are consistent, such as the unnecessary use of the apostrophe in reference to the 1960s and 1970s. There is an unusual mixture of English and American spelling in the text as well as occasional typographical errors; however, such minor blemishes in no way affect the reader's understanding of the text. This reviewer has no doubt that the monograph will have considerable appeal to a potentially enthusiastic audience.
S S D I 0022-1694(94)02631-9
J.S.G. McCULLOCH (Oxford, UK)
Hydrology and Wetland Conservation, by K. Gilman, Wiley, Chichester, 1994, hardcover, XII + 101 pp., £14.95, ISBN 0-471-95152-8. Wetlands are important components of the environment because they serve as wildlife habitat, store floodwaters, and improve water quality. Interest in preserving wetlands is gaining momentum around the World. This book investigates the aspects of wetland hydrology that are important for managing wetlands which could be affected by development. The basic premise of the book is that 'without a clear understanding of the hydrology of the site it is impossible to predict the effects of changes in adjoining land, to confirm the long-term viability of existing or created wetland, or to improve on the management of the land to increase its habitat value'. Wetlands in the UK are emphasized. The text includes five chapters entitled as follows: 1, Introduction; 2, Freshwater wetlands in the UK; 3, The wetland water balance; 4, Studying the wetland water balance by lysimetry; 5, Conclusions. The three page Introduction gives a brief overview of wetland preservation efforts in the UK. , Chapter 2 points out that freshwater wetlands in the UK consist of mainly marshes, fens, and bogs. Peat accumulates in the latter two types, but marshes consist primarily of mineral soil. Peat does not accumulate in marshes because the rapid movement of the oxygenated water promotes decomposition of plant tissue by worms and other organisms, and also brings in silt. This chapter discusses these processes in some detail using examples from specific wetlands around the UK. Much of Chapter 2 reviews seven wetlands (five fens and two bogs) whose hydrology is being monitored from extensive networks of wells. Water table data from these wetlands are used in subsequent chapters. The wetlands are 'peat-accumulators' and so most of the book is devoted to studying the hydrology of organic soils. Chapter 3 reviews the major components of the water balance and describes how each component can be measured. Aspects discussed include water inputs from rainfall, surface flows, and groundwater; outputs from evapotranspiration, surface flows, and groundwater flow; and the change in soil storage. The author believes that a wetland's hydrology can only be understood from data collected locally at the wetland of interest. Water table measurements are the most important type of information to collect. These data collected over time can be used to estimate the various
380
Book Reviews
components of the water balance such as the change in storage, loss by evapotranspiration, and inputs by lateral seepage of groundwater. While water table measurements are simple to make in principle, peat soils provide unique problems that must be overcome. A major problem is that the elevation of the peat surface changes seasonally. Well construction is discussed to show how wells should be installed so that changes in the peat surface can be measured. Chapter 4 is devoted to showing how lysimeters can be used to determine components of the water balance that cannot be found by simply measuring water levels at the site. A lysimeter is a block of soil that has been isolated by impermeable walls. Water levels inside and outside the block are monitored. The lysimeter is also equipped so that water can be pumped into the lysimeter to keep the water levels within it equal to those in the surrounding wetland. Methods for determining the evapotranspiration component of the water balance using lysimeters are discussed in detail. Chapter 5 reviews the material presented in the text. It is again brought out that to manage wetlands threatened by development, water level data have to be collected locally to assess how the wetland's hydrology is being affected by the development. Models can be used to an extent, but data collected at the site are preferred~ The discussion throughout the text uses relatively little mathematics, and anyone with some familiarity with calculus can understand virtually the entire text. Figures are used extensively and are dearly drawn. Approximately 70 references have been included which range in date from 1919 to 1991. The text is generally easy to read with a minimal use of jargon. The book is unique in at least two respects. First, it shows how water table levels can be used in the assessment of hydrology, rather than showing the power of hydrologic models. Using data from case studies, the author describes in detail how the analyses can be done by virtually anyone after an adequate set of water level data have been obtained. While the emphasis is on peat soils, the basic principles can be applied to mineral soils as well. Another strength of the book is that the author discusses some basic elements of wetland ecology from the standpoint of hydrology. The points made on how hydrology affects plants are not extensive, but such discussion is normally not found in texts on wetlands and I found the information instructive. This is not a textbook because the discussion is uneven. While basic principles of hydrology are mentioned, the author tends to dwell on practical problems encountered in studying the wetland water balance. These practical insights of the author are the book's real strengths. Anyone who intends to make water table measurements, particularly in peats, would probably find the book a good source of practical information.
S S D I 0022-1694(94)02647-5
MICHAEL J. VEPRASKAS (Raleigh, NC, USA)