Large trees that fall into steep headwater streams create steps that trap sediment (photo on left), creating important alluvial habitat in stream systems that are otherwise dominated by bedrock (photo on right).

Project Title

Relations between large wood and sediment storage in small, headwater streams of forested watersheds

Description

In the Pacific Northwest, the importance of small headwater streams to ecosystem health is not well known, but it is thought that degradation of these systems may have a considerable impact to downstream, fish-bearing reaches. This study seeks to understand the dynamics of coarse sediment storage in small headwater streams, how management activities may affect this storage, and what the implications are for downstream resources.

Investigators

Dr. Michael M. Pollock

Collaborators

Jill Silver (Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, Olympia), Paul Kennard (National Park Service, Seattle), and Jennifer Sampson (Integral Consulting)

Support

Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission

Project Status

Data analyses ongoing and manuscript in preparation

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