Instream Monitoring in WA Forests - Watershed Program - Environmental Conservation

Biologists surveying in-stream habitat to assess whether forest management practices are having the desired effect.

A goal of the Washington Department of Natural Resources Habitat Conservation Plan is to return managed streams on state lands to a natural condition, with abundant instream large woody debris and healthy riparian forests.

Project Title

Instream monitoring plan for Washington State forest lands

Description

The Instream Monitoring Plan works with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources to develop an instream monitoring plan as part of the state's agency's Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). The purpose of this study is to develop a methodology for assessing whether the changes in forest management activities, which were enacted after adoption of the HCP, are having the desired effect of improving instream habitat conditions.

Investigators

Dr. Michael M. Pollock and Dr. Tim Beechie

Collaborators

Dr. Richard Bigley (Washington Department of Natural Resources)

Support

Washington Department of Natural Resources

Project Status

Data collection and analyses ongoing (this is a long-term monitoring project).