Many studies have shown the importance of large wood to the structure
and function of coastal streams; however, little is known about
patterns of recruitment and redistribution of wood at large spatial
and temporal scales. The spatial and temporal patterns of large
wood input to streams are important because they affect channel
morphology, routing and storage of water and sediment, and provide
structure and complexity associated with habitat for numerous
aquatic and terrestrial organisms. These patterns create a diverse
array of habitat types and availability over time. The purpose
of this study is to describe the patterns, and identify the processes,
of large wood recruitment and redistribution at multiple locations
in the drainage network.
This study focuses on headwater streams because small streams
are often the most directly impacted by land-use activities.
Because these stream channels can represent more than 70%
of the cumulative channel length in mountain watersheds of
the Oregon
Coast Range, small streams are often a primary conduit for
water, sediment, and wood routed from hillslopes to larger
rivers. Policy and management historically placed less emphasis
on small, often ephemeral, tributary channels and their associated
riparian habitats because they do not directly provide habitat
for fish. In recent years, however, it has become increasingly
apparent that to maintain complex aquatic habitat, forest
management must emphasize the physical and biological linkages
among streams, riparian zones, and uplands throughout a watershed.
For additional information about this completed research study
see the 2001
CFER Annual Report. (1.1 MB)
