Abstract
Recently dam projects tend to leave forests adove the expected normal water level. However, few researchers have investigated the changes in these submerged stands following the first filling of the reservoir. Therefore, we investigated the changes in the growth increment of trees after the first filling of the reservoir behind the Miharu Dam, Fukushima Prefecture, in the Tohoku district of Japan. This study was conducted on a slope in a forest dominated by Castanea crenata and Quercus serrata. The water level twice exceeded EL. 326.5m, the height at which the lowest measured tree grew. The first time, the tree was submerged for 15 days in May and June 1997; the second time it was submerged for 89 days, from September to December 1997. After the 15-day flood, growth was not affected, but after the 89-day flood some trees that were submerged for more than 37 days died. The area of forest that was flooded for 30 days or less survived following the first filling.
