Water table evaluation post the construction of canal blocks on peatland in West Kalimantan, Indonesia

Abstract

Creating canal network is the first step to do agricultural practice in wetlands that aims to make the wetland dry. The existence of canal network affects the hydrological function of peat ecosystem in West Kalimantan which leads to drought and peatland fires during dry season. Canal network on peatlands causes the previously stagnant water to flow out easily through the canal. Therefore, a repressive effort is required to maintain water table in peatland. A countermeasure that has been applied to restore peat is by constructing canal blocks on the established canals. The objective of this study was to assess and evaluate changes in water table in peatlands after the construction of a canal block in Wajok Hilir Village, Mempawah Regency, West Kalimantan. Based on the water table evaluation result on peatland with and without blocked canal, it is identified that peatland surrounding blocked canal had smaller water table fluctuation than the peatland surrounding unblocked canal during 1 tidal period. This research concludes that the construction of canal block helps retain water longer in peatland so that water table can be maintained in short term and is expected to restore hydrological function of peatland in the long term.

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MATEC Web of Conferences 195, 03016 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201819503016
ICRMCE 2018
Water table evaluation post the construction of
canal blocks on peatland in West Kalimantan,
Indonesia
Henny Herawati1,*, Aji Ali Akbar2, Dwi Farastika2, and Azmeri 3
1Civil Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Tanjungpura University, Indonesia
2Environmental Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Tanjungpura University, Indonesia
3Civil Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Syiah Kuala University, Indonesia
Abstract. Creating canal network is the first step to do agricultural
practice in wetlands that aims to make the wetland dry. The existence of
canal network affects the hydrological function of peat ecosystem in West
Kalimantan which leads to drought and peatland fires during dry season.
Canal network on peatlands causes the previously stagnant water to flow
out easily through the canal. Therefore, a repressive effort is required to
maintain water table in peatland. A countermeasure that has been applied
to restore peat is by constructing canal blocks on the established canals.
The objective of this study was to assess and evaluate changes in water
table in peatlands after the construction of a canal block in Wajok Hilir
Village, Mempawah Regency, West Kalimantan. Based on the water table
evaluation result on peatland with and without blocked canal, it is
identified that peatland surrounding blocked canal had smaller water table
fluctuation than the peatland surrounding unblocked canal during 1 tidal
period. This research concludes that the construction of canal block helps
retain water longer in peatland so that water table can be maintained in
short term and is expected to restore hydrological function of peatland in
the long term.
1 Introduction
Agricultural practices are not only performed on dry lands, but also in wetlands. The
wetlands discussed are wet peatlands. Activities in the wetlands begin by managing the
land to become dry by creating drainage in the form of canal network. Since the 1960s, the
wetlands of West Kalimantan Province have begun to be opened independently by Bugis
and Malay residents with limited capacity possessed by the community [1]. In the 1970, to
support the government's food self-sufficiency program and transmigration program to
West Kalimantan, the government began to open up new lands as agricultural land with the
construction of drainage canals on peatlands [1]. In addition to its function as a drainage
canal, several canals are also built with special functions as boundaries between hamlets in
a region [2].
* Corresponding author: hennyherawati@civil.untan.ac.id

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ICRMCE 2018
Canal network on peatlands causes the water that naturally exists within peatland to
flow freely out of the land through the canal. Uncontrolled canal network development
causes excessive drainage (over drain) especially during the dry season. This condition
causes the peatlands to experience drought. If the drought persists for a sufficiently long
time, irreversible drying conditions may occur. If peatlands reach this condition then the
ability of peat to store water will be lost [3]. Over drain may cause changes in peatland
characteristics, including land subsidence and changes in water table in peatlands [3][4].
Peat is an organic soil, thus if the peat is in a prolonged dry condition, it will be easily
subjected to fire [3] [5]. In 2015, there was a big land fire on peatlands in Indonesia [6], [7],
including West Kalimantan Province. In 2016, the Indonesian government has established a
peat restoration contingency program to prevent peatland fires through various programs,
one of which is rewetting [8].
The rewetting efforts that have been carried out by the Indonesian government through
the Peatland Restoration Agency are the construction of simple canal blocks in tertiary or
quaternary canal with a river width of approximately 2 to 5 meters. To examine the impact
of this simple canal blocks construction, research is required to analyze the impact of canal
blocking on the changes in water table in peatlands in West Kalimantan.
1.1 Research objective
The objective of this research was to assess and evaluate changes in water table in peatlands
after the construction of a canal block in West Kalimantan.
1.2 Literature review
1.2.1 Peatland overview
Peat is a wetland ecosystem characterized by the accumulation of organic materials that
lasts for a long time [9]. This accumulation occurs due to the decomposition rate which is
much slower than the rate of accumulation of organic matter contained in the wetland
forests. The process of peat formation almost always occurs in waterlogged forests,
producing organic materials in large quantities.
Peatland is a land derived from organic materials and vegetations contained thereon,
formed in areas with low topography, with high rainfall or in areas where the temperature is
very low. Peat soils have a high content of organic matter (>12% C carbon) [5]. Peat soils
are classified as histosol in FAO-UNESCO Soil Classification System (1994), which are
those containing organic matter higher than 30 percent, in layers as thick as 40 cm or more,
in the top 80 cm of the soil profile.
Tropical peat is generally reddish brown to dark brown (dark) depending on the
decomposition stage. Peat has a characteristic that is not shared by other types of soil,
where peat is able to absorb water with a very high volume. The physical properties of peat
in Wajok Hilir Village are histosol and associated with alluvial soils, because of its location
in the coastal area [2].
The total porosity of peat ranges from 75 to 95% [10]. Roots of trees and forest plants
form air cavities and porosity of soils that naturally have greater water retention capability
compared to area that is not covered with vegetation [11]. Peat ecosystem in Indonesia
stores about 57 Gt of carbon [12]. The degradation of peat ecosystem is due to changes in
land use into plantations, industrial tree plantations and farmland. This causes the release of
one of the greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which accelerates global climate change
[5].

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MATEC Web of Conferences 195, 03016 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201819503016
ICRMCE 2018
Canal network on peatlands causes the water that naturally exists within peatland to
flow freely out of the land through the canal. Uncontrolled canal network development
causes excessive drainage (over drain) especially during the dry season. This condition
causes the peatlands to experience drought. If the drought persists for a sufficiently long
time, irreversible drying conditions may occur. If peatlands reach this condition then the
ability of peat to store water will be lost [3]. Over drain may cause changes in peatland
characteristics, including land subsidence and changes in water table in peatlands [3][4].
Peat is an organic soil, thus if the peat is in a prolonged dry condition, it will be easily
subjected to fire [3] [5]. In 2015, there was a big land fire on peatlands in Indonesia [6], [7],
including West Kalimantan Province. In 2016, the Indonesian government has established a
peat restoration contingency program to prevent peatland fires through various programs,
one of which is rewetting [8].
The rewetting efforts that have been carried out by the Indonesian government through
the Peatland Restoration Agency are the construction of simple canal blocks in tertiary or
quaternary canal with a river width of approximately 2 to 5 meters. To examine the impact
of this simple canal blocks construction, research is required to analyze the impact of canal
blocking on the changes in water table in peatlands in West Kalimantan.
1.1 Research objective
The objective of this research was to assess and evaluate changes in water table in peatlands
after the construction of a canal block in West Kalimantan.
1.2 Literature review
1.2.1 Peatland overview
Peat is a wetland ecosystem characterized by the accumulation of organic materials that
lasts for a long time [9]. This accumulation occurs due to the decomposition rate which is
much slower than the rate of accumulation of organic matter contained in the wetland
forests. The process of peat formation almost always occurs in waterlogged forests,
producing organic materials in large quantities.
Peatland is a land derived from organic materials and vegetations contained thereon,
formed in areas with low topography, with high rainfall or in areas where the temperature is
very low. Peat soils have a high content of organic matter (>12% C carbon) [5]. Peat soils
are classified as histosol in FAO-UNESCO Soil Classification System (1994), which are
those containing organic matter higher than 30 percent, in layers as thick as 40 cm or more,
in the top 80 cm of the soil profile.
Tropical peat is generally reddish brown to dark brown (dark) depending on the
decomposition stage. Peat has a characteristic that is not shared by other types of soil,
where peat is able to absorb water with a very high volume. The physical properties of peat
in Wajok Hilir Village are histosol and associated with alluvial soils, because of its location
in the coastal area [2].
The total porosity of peat ranges from 75 to 95% [10]. Roots of trees and forest plants
form air cavities and porosity of soils that naturally have greater water retention capability
compared to area that is not covered with vegetation [11]. Peat ecosystem in Indonesia
stores about 57 Gt of carbon [12]. The degradation of peat ecosystem is due to changes in
land use into plantations, industrial tree plantations and farmland. This causes the release of
one of the greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which accelerates global climate change
[5].
Land subsidence occurring in peatlands is highly dependent on existing activities on
peatlands and nearby areas. The severity of the subsidence is influenced by the level of peat
maturity, the age of reclamation, and the thickness of the peat layer; Fibric peat experiences
greater subsidence than hemic and sapric peat. In order to minimize the occurrence of
subsidence, things that have to ensure of is to maintain waterlogged condition or to
maintain the water level at the relevant level, typically less than 40 cm [4].
1.1.2 Water management on peat swamp land
Drainage is a prerequisite for agricultural activity, although it is not an easy thing to do
given the nature of the peat that can experience shrinkage and irreversible drying due to the
drainage. Therefore, prior to reclamation of peatland, it is necessary to identify the specific
nature of peat, its role and function for the environment [10]. A good drainage for peat
agriculture is the drainage that retains critical water limit for peat, without causing harm to
crops that will affect crop productivity.
The dimension of drainage canal varies depending on the soil's natural condition and the
intensity of rainfall. High rainfall (4000-5000 mm per year) [10] requires a relatively large
drainage system to minimize the effects of flooding on land. However the depth of the
canal needs to consider the water level required to keep overdrain from occurring [4].
After the creation of drainage and peatland clearing, subsidence is generally relatively
rapid, resulting in a decline in the soil surface. Subsidence and decomposition of organic
matter can cause problems if the minerals under the peat layer consist of pyrite or quartz
sand rise to the surface. The low bulk density resulted in low bearing capacity of peat soil,
so the processing of the soil is difficult to do mechanically or with livestock. Low holding
ability is also a problem for planting trees or seasonal plants susceptible to lodgings [10].
Water management is the key to successful agricultural development in peatlands.
Water management in peat swamps is primarily intended to maintain soil moisture during
dry season, to prevent flooding during rainy season, to wash toxic compounds such as
organic acids and H2SO4, as well as to control pests.
Several possible mechanisms for water management on peatlands are as follows:
1. Blocking the canal on peatland
2. Building sluice gates on peatlands
3. Creating pond as a water reservoir on peatlands
4. Establishing long storage on existing canals in peatlands [13] by installing canal blocks.
2 Methodology
2.1 Study area
This research was conducted in Wajok Hilir Village, Siantan District, Mempawah Regency.
Wajok Hilir Village is approximately in the position of S 0.0793°, E 109.3188°, which is
located ± 11 km to the Northwest from the Capital of Pontianak, West Kalimantan Province
(Figure 1). Wajok Hilir Village is affected by tides. Wajok Hilir Village has long been
endeavored by most local people as agricultural land. Wajok Hilir Village is a region
dominated by peat swamp, thus Wajok Hilir Village is one of the target villages of a
program by Indonesia's Peatland Restoration Agency, Construction of peat rewetting
infrastructure: canal block in 2017.
The average rainfall of Siantan District in 2015 ranges from 5.1 to. 304.1 millimeters.
The highest average monthly rainfall occurred in January, while September was the lowest
rainfall in Siantan District, which was only 5.1 mm. The number of rainy days in Siantan

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ICRMCE 2018
District ranges from 6 to 26 rainy days with January as the month that has the highest
number of rainy days for 26 rainy days. Meanwhile, the lowest number of rainy days
occurred in September with rainy days of 6 [14].
The village of Wajok Hilir has high rainfall potential and is affected by tides. Thus
peatlands in Wajok Hilir village are not supposed to experience drought. This is due to the
influence of tidal sea water, where ground water remains available on land even though it
does not rain. However, this is in contrast to the fact that the Wajok Hilir village often
experiences fires during dry season, due to the dry land. It is necessary to find out the
impact of rewetting efforts promoted by the government through the construction of a
simple canal blocks, on the stability of water table in the peatlands, especially Wajok Hilir
Village as the research location. Photos of canal block that have been built in the field can
be seen in Figure 2.
Fig. 1. Orientation of Wajok Hilir Village as a study area in West Kalimantan Province, Indonesia
Fig. 2. Construction of canal block in Wajok Hilir Village, Documentation on January, 2018

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MATEC Web of Conferences 195, 03016 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201819503016
ICRMCE 2018
District ranges from 6 to 26 rainy days with January as the month that has the highest
number of rainy days for 26 rainy days. Meanwhile, the lowest number of rainy days
occurred in September with rainy days of 6 [14].
The village of Wajok Hilir has high rainfall potential and is affected by tides. Thus
peatlands in Wajok Hilir village are not supposed to experience drought. This is due to the
influence of tidal sea water, where ground water remains available on land even though it
does not rain. However, this is in contrast to the fact that the Wajok Hilir village often
experiences fires during dry season, due to the dry land. It is necessary to find out the
impact of rewetting efforts promoted by the government through the construction of a
simple canal blocks, on the stability of water table in the peatlands, especially Wajok Hilir
Village as the research location. Photos of canal block that have been built in the field can
be seen in Figure 2.
Fig. 1. Orientation of Wajok Hilir Village as a study area in West Kalimantan Province, Indonesia
Fig. 2. Construction of canal block in Wajok Hilir Village, Documentation on January, 2018
2.2 Observation time
Wajok Hilir Village is a tidal influenced village, which affects the water level in Wajok
Hilir Village. Based on this condition, the research was conducted by observing the water
table in the field by taking the periodic time of the tides into account. Observations were
made from February to March 2018.
2.3 Data collection method
Collection of water level and water table data were done every day in the morning (at 06.00
a.m.) and afternoon (at 06.00 p.m.). Data were taken by reading the water level elevation on
a peil scale or piezometer on peatland.
Measurements were made at several points of observation that may represent the water
level around the land where canal block is built and surrounding areas where canal block is
not built. Observations were also made by comparing the location around the tertiary canal
with the location around the quaternary canal.
3 Results and discussion
The results of water table observation in peatland on canal where canal block is built and
not built, show the difference of fluctuation of water level during 1 tidal periodic, that land
surrounding canal where canal block is installed on have smaller water fluctuation
compared to water table around the canal which are freely drain out the water (with no
canal block). These data can be seen in Table 1. Measurement points and location of canal
network and canal block can be seen in Figure 3.
In peatland where a canal block installed in a quaternary canal, a decrease in water table
is averaging less than 30 cm (sample point 1). Whereas in peatland around a quaternary
canal with no canal block, the average water table can reach more than 50 cm (sample point
2). This suggests that the construction of canal block helps retain water table longer in the
land, by holding groundwater which was injected into peatlands by the tides.
Table 1. Average water table value at observation area.
Item
Observation Area
1 2 3 4
max 73,3 69,5 79,5 77,8
min 45,5 14,5 45 22,5
interval 27,8 55,0 34,5 55,3
Note : 1 = location of the land around quaternary canal where the canal block is built
2 = location of the land around quaternary canal where the canal block is not built
3 = location of tertiary canal where the canal block isn’t built
4 = location of the land around tertiary canal where the canal block is not built
In the tertiary canal (sample point 4), a canal whose dimensions are larger than the
quaternary canals (sample point 2), the average maximum and minimum value of water
table is consistently with a difference of around 8 centimeters during high tides and low
tides. This is because the bigger the dimensions of the canal, the more volume of water that
will be flow out of the canal, so that the existence of water on peatlands near tertiary canal
will be further down below the surface than the area near quaternary canal.

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Fig. 3. Location of canal network, canal block, and measurement points
The relatively small water table fluctuations in the area affected by sea tides indicate
that the construction of canal block in tertiary or quaternary canals can reduce the decline in
water table in peatlands. Water table on peatlands is important to maintain because water
table of less than 50 cm may reduce the dryness of the peat so the potential for land fires
can be minimized.
The dry season can cause the water table to be far deep below the ground. Construction
of canal block in quaternary or tertiary canals can restrain the rate of water out of the
peatlands. By retaining water in the canal, the water table of less than 50 cm can be
maintained.
Construction of canal block has been proven to maintain water table fluctuations. In
addition to maintaining the water table, canal block may also be a water retainer in the
canal, so that the canal can serve as a water container in the form of long storage. With a
controlled water table, the possibility of land fires on peatlands caused by prolonged
drought can be minimized.
Construction of the canal block in Central Kalimantan has also proven effective in
raising the water content of peat soil. The study was conducted on peatland around Ahas
River, on a location where canal block is not built, the water content of peat soil is only
about 60%, whereas on the location with canal block, the peat soil’s moisture content is
close to 250% [15].
Long-term peatland restoration is expected to restore hydrological function of peat. This
is shown in the result of peatland restoration conducted in Porla and Vastkarr, Sweden.
Both sites have previously degraded hydrological function of peat, but then returned to
natural or semi-natural condition after restoration has been carried out in the form of
peatland rewetting for 15 years [16]. The construction of canal block has also been proven
to reduce carbon release and increase biodiversity [17].
4 Conclusion and recommendation
From the results of the study, it can be concluded that after the construction of canal blocks,
the decline in water table in peatlands can be maintained. The construction of canal blocks
may also be utilized to retain water in the canal, so that there will be a water reservoir in the
canal that serves as a long storage, to meet the water needs for irrigation in the area
surrounding the canal. In order to control water table in peatlands, construction of canal
blocks is recommended to be built on tertiary and quaternary canals for all locations on
peatlands.

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MATEC Web of Conferences 195, 03016 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201819503016
ICRMCE 2018
Fig. 3. Location of canal network, canal block, and measurement points
The relatively small water table fluctuations in the area affected by sea tides indicate
that the construction of canal block in tertiary or quaternary canals can reduce the decline in
water table in peatlands. Water table on peatlands is important to maintain because water
table of less than 50 cm may reduce the dryness of the peat so the potential for land fires
can be minimized.
The dry season can cause the water table to be far deep below the ground. Construction
of canal block in quaternary or tertiary canals can restrain the rate of water out of the
peatlands. By retaining water in the canal, the water table of less than 50 cm can be
maintained.
Construction of canal block has been proven to maintain water table fluctuations. In
addition to maintaining the water table, canal block may also be a water retainer in the
canal, so that the canal can serve as a water container in the form of long storage. With a
controlled water table, the possibility of land fires on peatlands caused by prolonged
drought can be minimized.
Construction of the canal block in Central Kalimantan has also proven effective in
raising the water content of peat soil. The study was conducted on peatland around Ahas
River, on a location where canal block is not built, the water content of peat soil is only
about 60%, whereas on the location with canal block, the peat soil’s moisture content is
close to 250% [15].
Long-term peatland restoration is expected to restore hydrological function of peat. This
is shown in the result of peatland restoration conducted in Porla and Vastkarr, Sweden.
Both sites have previously degraded hydrological function of peat, but then returned to
natural or semi-natural condition after restoration has been carried out in the form of
peatland rewetting for 15 years [16]. The construction of canal block has also been proven
to reduce carbon release and increase biodiversity [17].
4 Conclusion and recommendation
From the results of the study, it can be concluded that after the construction of canal blocks,
the decline in water table in peatlands can be maintained. The construction of canal blocks
may also be utilized to retain water in the canal, so that there will be a water reservoir in the
canal that serves as a long storage, to meet the water needs for irrigation in the area
surrounding the canal. In order to control water table in peatlands, construction of canal
blocks is recommended to be built on tertiary and quaternary canals for all locations on
peatlands.
The Authors would like to express their appreciation to Indonesia’s Peatland Restoration Agency for
the construction of canal block which has become the object of this research. This research was
conducted with financial support from Tanjungpura University. The authors would like to express
gratitude to the reviewers who provide valuable comments and suggestions in order to improve the
quality of this paper.
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