Effects of large woody debris on surface structure and aquatic habitat in forested streams, southern interior British Columbia, Canada

2008 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 862-875 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoyong Chen ◽  
Xiaohua Wei ◽  
Rob Scherer ◽  
Dan Hogan
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Surface Structure ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Aquatic Habitat ◽  
Large Woody Debris

Relationships of channel characteristics, land ownership, and land use patterns to large woody debris in western Oregon streams

2002 ◽  
Vol 59 (5) ◽  
pp. 796-807 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael G Wing ◽  
Arne Skaugset
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Aquatic Habitat ◽  
Channel Width ◽  
Large Woody Debris ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Land Uses ◽  
Land Use Patterns ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Relationship Of

Regression tree analysis was used to test the relationship of channel and aquatic habitat characteristics from 3793 stream reaches in western Oregon State to the abundance of large woody debris (LWD). Stream reaches were drawn from diverse ownerships and land uses – land cover types over a broad geographic extent. When all land uses – land covers were considered, ownership and land use patterns were related to LWD abundance. When nonforested land uses were excluded, however, these factors became less important. In forested streams, LWD abundance was predicted primarily by stream gradient and bankfull channel width, with the volume, frequency, and size of LWD pieces decreasing as channel size increased. Within forested lands, stand age and forest distribution were related to LWD size but had small correlations with LWD volume and abundance. The strong relationship of stream gradient and bankfull channel width with LWD suggests that in forested areas, the most significant factor related to LWD counts is the geomorphology of stream reaches and their surrounding areas. Land managers in western Oregon who want to improve aquatic habitat quality may want to direct their efforts to increasing LWD in larger streams, which typically include smaller quantities of LWD.

A watershed scale assessment of in-stream large woody debris patterns in the southern interior of British Columbia

2006 ◽  
Vol 229 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 50-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoyong Chen ◽  
Xiaohua Wei ◽  
Rob Scherer ◽  
Chad Luider ◽  
Wayne Darlington
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Large Woody Debris ◽  
Watershed Scale ◽  
Scale Assessment

Mechanisms and source distances for the input of large woody debris to forested streams in British Columbia, Canada

2011 ◽  
Vol 41 (11) ◽  
pp. 2231-2246 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.T. Johnston ◽  
S.A. Bird ◽  
D.L. Hogan ◽  
E.A. MacIsaac
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Large Woody Debris ◽  
Source Distance ◽  
Standing Dead ◽  
A Site ◽  
Bankfull Width ◽  
Domain Concept ◽  
Channel Type

The geomorphic process domain concept predicts consistent associations between stream channel geomorphology and large woody debris (LWD) input mechanisms. We used synoptic surveys at 51 stream reaches adjacent to undisturbed mature or old-growth forests in central and southern British Columbia to test associations between stream geomorphology and the input processes, source distances, physical characteristics, and geomorphic functions of LWD within the bankfull channel. Standing dead tree fall was the dominant input mechanism, but bank erosion was important in low- and medium-gradient channels >3 m bankfull width. Wind-induced inputs (stem breakage and windthrow) were relatively more important in small or steep channels. LWD piece size and source distance varied among delivery processes. LWD originated at ground distances up to 65 m from the streams, but 90% of the LWD at a site originated within 18 m of the channel at 90% of the sites. Statistical models incorporating tree size and stream characteristics (bankfull width, channel type) explained 40%–64% of the variation among sites in the distances from which LWD entered streams. In general, LWD source distances increased with increasing tree height and decreased with increasing stream width; however, the strengths of these relationships were modified by channel type.

scholarly journals Monitoring riparian restoration to ensure recruitment of large woody debris in Haida Gwaii, British Columbia

2012 ◽  
Vol 88 (02) ◽  
pp. 131-139
Author(s):  
Alexandra L. Ryland ◽  
Sean C. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Forest Stand ◽  
Large Woody Debris ◽  
Dynamic Monitoring ◽  
Fundamental Aspect ◽  
Sampling Efficiency ◽  
Riparian Restoration ◽  
Haida Gwaii ◽  
Monitoring Plan

Monitoring is a fundamental aspect of restoration, as it determines when the restoration objectives have been met. As restoration objectives are not universal, monitoring needs to be included in the development and design of each restoration project. We assessed the effectiveness and efficiency of a forest stand dynamic monitoring plan, developed for use with riparian restoration occurring on Lyell Island, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia. The restoration objective is to accelerate the development of late-successional forests for the benefit of riparian wildlife species and recruitment of in-stream large woody debris, which specifically provides essential habitat for a variety of fish species. In this study large woody debris (LWD) is referred to as downed wood greater than 7.5 cm in diameter. Prior to the start of riparian restoration, two watersheds were quantified for their stand structure and composition using the forest stand dynamic monitoring plan. An error analysis of these data was used to assess the sampling efficiency of the monitoring plan. The design of the monitoring plan was found to be efficient at monitoring the riparian forest stand dynamics (with seven or eight plots per site sufficient to evaluate stand basal area and stem density to within 10%), but not woody debris volumes (for which deviations >10% were found even with 14 plots per site). Incorporation of additional line transects or adoption of more efficient sampling methods for woody debris (such as diameter or length relascope methods) is suggested as a means of enhancing large woody debris sampling efficiency.

Behaviour, Habitat Use, and Movements of Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Smolte during Seaward Migration

1992 ◽  
Vol 49 (7) ◽  
pp. 1478-1485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas E. McMahon ◽  
L. Blair Holtby
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Habitat Use ◽  
Coho Salmon ◽  
Saline Water ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Oncorhynchus Kisutch ◽  
Large Woody Debris ◽  
Seaward Migration

Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) smolts formed aggregations in pools with large woody debris during their migration downstream and into the Carnation Creek estuary, British Columbia. Smolts utilized the estuary throughout the smolt run, with periods of high outmigration coinciding with spring tides which brought warmer, more saline water into the estuary. Smolt abundance in the stream and estuary was positively related to debris volume, and 82% of the 1260 smolts observed during underwater counts occurred within 1 m of debris. Debris volume and smolt density were significantly lower in clearcut than in buffered stream sections. Our observations support the need to retain and manage large woody debris for smolt habitat in streams and estuaries.

Large Woody Debris and Salmonid Habitat in a Small Coastal British Columbia Stream

1992 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 682-693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kurt D. Fausch ◽  
Thomas G. Northcote
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Standing Crop ◽  
Coho Salmon ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Cutthroat Trout ◽  
Large Woody Debris ◽  
Habitat Conditions ◽  
Debris Removal ◽  
Coastal British Columbia ◽  
Complex Habitat

Sections of a small coastal British Columbia stream that had previously been cleaned of large woody debris (LWD) were compared with sections where most debris was left and with others where debris had been relatively undisturbed for at least 40 yr. Three sections where debris had been removed had simple habitat that was less sinuous, wider, and shallower and had less pool volume and overhead cover than four sections with more complex habitat where debris was retained. Habitat in four relatively undisturbed sections was generally similar to complex sections. Most pools in all sections were scour or plunge pools formed by LWD or large roots oriented perpendicular to the flow or angled downstream. Standing crop (kolograms per hectare) and individual weights of age 1 + and older coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and cutthroat trout (O. clarki) were significantly greater (P < 0.02) in complex than in simple sections. Biomass of age 1 + and older salmonids was closely related to section pool volume (r2 = 0.92, P = 0.0006). Projections based on this model and average habitat conditions suggest that during 1990 a total of 8.0 kg of salmonid biomass, 5 times the current standing crop, was forgone in the 332-m simple reach due to prior debris removal.

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