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Stream ecosystems and associated riparian zones in a forested area (top panel), mixed land-use (middle panel), and an agricultural area (bottom panel).
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Project Title
Basin-wide analysis of potential to improve tributary habitats in the Columbia River basin through restoration of habitat-forming processes
Description
Our approach to assessing root causes of habitat degradation focuses on direct analysis of land use changes to habitat-forming processes. The scientific principle behind the approach is that sustainable habitat restoration must focus on restoring processes that create and maintain aquatic ecosystems that support salmon. Practical considerations are that (1) process-based restoration does not require repeated and costly intervention by land managers and is therefore more cost-effective in the long term, and (2) available data sets for basin-wide analysis can be most directly related to landscape processes, whereas in-stream habitat conditions are more reliably analyzed using field inventories. We assess six candidate habitat-forming processes: sediment supply, riparian functions (floodplain and non-floodplain), migration barriers, entrainment of juvenile into water diversions, current use pesticides, and water withdrawals. For each candidate process we estimate deviations from historical rates or conditions, and larger deviations represent a greater likelihood that there is potential to make habitat improvements. We use coarse resolution data and process-based assessment approaches to identify locations where habitat-forming processes have likely been significantly altered by land uses.
The primary purpose of this investigation is to help identify where habitat restoration in Columbia Basin tributaries is most likely to help improve population statuses of listed salmon.
Investigators
Tim Beechie, Aimee Fullerton; and Damon Holzer, Michelle McClure, Mary Ruckelshaus, and Katie Barnas (Conservation Biology Division)
Collaborators
Sarah Baker, Jason Hall, and Florientiu Damien (ORISE); and David Jensen (Statistical Consultant)
Support
NOAA Fisheries
Project Status
Analyses completed. One paper published, two in review, and one in preparation.
Relevant Publications
Fullerton, A.H., T.J. Beechie, S.E. Baker, J.E. Hall, and K.A. Barnas. 2006. Regional Patterns of Riparian Characteristics in the Interior Columbia River Basin, Northwestern USA: Applications for Restoration Planning. Landscape Ecology 21:1347-1360.
Baker, S., F. Damien, J. Hall, and T. Beechie. In Review. Modeling erosion rate increases in the interior Columbia River basin. Journal of the American Water Resources Association.
Hall, J., D. Holzer, and T. Beechie. In Review. Modeling floodplain and lateral channel migration locations in the Interior Columbia River Basin, USA. Journal of the American Water Resources Association.
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