There are over 8,000 riparian vegetation strips within Hydro-Québec’s utility network, maintained to preserve the natural characteristics of small streams. In a clearcut landscape, riparian strips prevent soil erosion and a rise of temperature in small streams. Rights-of-way (ROWs) located in a forested landscape may present a different situation because the clearcut area is significantly smaller than in a conventional logging operation. The object of our study was to test the hypothesis that erosion in small streams located in ROWs and protected by a low vegetation cover is comparable to erosion in upstream segments in the natural forest (NAT). We also tested the hypothesis that temperature variations in stream segments located in ROWs are similar to variations in upstream forested segments. Erosion was measured in 36 streams crossing ROWs. Erosion type and severity were classified using a quantitative scale and a compounded erosion index was derived for comparison purposes. Erosion indices were not statistically different between ROW and NAT sections. Scouring was common in both sections and affected about 36% of the stream bank length. Water temperature was measured in 33 streams with a riparian strip of low vegetation (£1 m). Water temperature in upstream segments was comparable to temperature measured in ROWs. Stream temperature, when leaving the ROWs, was <18°C in 90% of the streams. Temperature variations in ROWs (1.4°C/100 m) were not statistically different from variations in upstream segments (1.5°C/100 m).

Reprinted from Williams, James R., John W. Goodrich-Mahoney, Jan R. Wisniewski and Joe Wisniewski (Editors) / The Sixth International Symposium on Environmental Concerns in Rights-of-Way Management, Copyright 1997, with permission from Elsevier Science.