Channel morphology and sediment movement in a tidal river, pitt river, British Columbia

1980 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 347-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gail M. Ashley
1984 ◽  
Vol 41 (7) ◽  
pp. 1097-1105 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Scrivener ◽  
B. C. Andersen

Natural patterns in emergence times, seaward movements, instream distributions, densities, and growth of coho salmon fry (Oncorhynchus kisutch) between March and September are contrasted with patterns observed during and after logging in the Carnation Creek watershed. After streamside logging in 1976–77, fry emerged up to 6 wk earlier and moved seaward more quickly than during years before logging. These observations are attributed to higher water temperatures during the winter and to emergence during a period of more frequent freshets. Increased fry movement from the stream could result in habitat being underutilized. In sections affected by intense streamside logging, the deposition of "fine" logging debris led to increased fry densities during the summers of 1977 and 1978. After major freshets in November 1978, which removed this fine debris and affected channel morphology in these sections, fry densities declined below those observed prior to logging. Growth rate of fry was inversely correlated with density in all stream sections. Growth rates, after correction for density, tended to be greater in all sections after the adjacent streamside was logged. Larger fry and more variable numbers of fry remained in the stream in September after logging than before logging. Their increased size is attributed to the longer growing season afforded by earlier emergence. This complex of interacting factors determines the number and size of fry in autumn and it can influence the production of smolts the following spring.


2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (11) ◽  
pp. 1780-1793
Author(s):  
David A. Reid ◽  
Robin Pike ◽  
Stephen Bird ◽  
Peter Tschaplinski ◽  
David Wilford

In streams where water availability is limited, conservative flow ranges are often adopted by water managers to ensure that streamflow is available to meet the ecological requirements of aquatic organisms. However, a variety of natural and anthropogenic disturbances can influence stream channel morphology and in-stream wood characteristics through time, potentially altering the availability of habitat at a given flow level. Using a 2D hydrodynamic modelling approach incorporating 45 years of detailed channel morphology data from Carnation Creek, British Columbia, this paper examines relationships between legacy (forestry-driven) watershed disturbance, changes to channel morphology, and habitat availability for juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) under nine flow levels. Results indicate that substantial variability in the abundance of salmonid habitat is present through time, even when modelled flow levels are held constant. Additionally, trade-offs were observed between availability of habitat types as discharge increased. Finally, modelling results indicate that habitat availability is reduced following historical harvesting. These findings suggest that legacy watershed disturbances affecting stream channel form and function are worth considering when allocating streamflow.


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