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Display All Information
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Document Type:
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Journal Article
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Center:
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NWFSC
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Document ID:
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6455
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Author:
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A. H. Fullerton, T. J. Beechie, S Baker, J. E. Hall, K. Barnas
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Year:
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2006
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Title:
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Regional Patterns of Riparian Characteristics in the Interior Columbia River Basin, Northwestern USA: Applications for Restoration Planning
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Journal:
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Landscape Ecology
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Volume:
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21
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Pages:
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1347-1360
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Date:
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10/02/2006
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Division ID:
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EC
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Keywords:
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coarse-resolution regional analysis, riparian, Pacific salmon, land use and land cover, conservation plans, Columbia River basin
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Abstract:
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Recent declines in anadromous Pacific
salmonids (Oncorhynchus spp.) have been attributed, in part, to degradation of freshwater habitat. Because riparian areas directly affect instream habitat,
assessing riparian characteristics is essential for predicting salmon habitat quality and for prioritizing restoration projects. We quantified land use modification of anadromous fish-bearing streams in the interior Columbia River basin at multiple resolutions. We identified riparian areas in several land use and land cover classes using remotely sensed data. We then interpreted aerial photographs at random locations within each class to quantify
riparian modifications at a local (stream reach) scale. Riparian areas in agricultural and urban areas were significantly narrower (30m median) than
those in forested or shrub/grass areas (70m). The largest proportion of modified riparian areas occurred in low-gradient streams with floodplains in
semi-arid ecoregions. Riparian vegetation in these areas is unlikely to provide adequate in-stream functions, making these areas a natural starting point for restoration prioritization. We investigated how existing riparian restoration projects were spatially
related to riparian land use and found that restoration effort varied among subwatersheds. Effective strategies for restoring high quality salmon habitat
will be watershed-specific and must restore natural watershed processes. By using a hierarchical analysis to identify regional strategies, restoration or conservation activity can be focused in specific basins and thereby increase the likelihood that efforts will significantly improve habitat conditions for listed salmonids.
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Notes:
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Originally submitted 10/13/05, accepted with major revisions 12/21/05, resubmitted 2/7/06, accepted 2/16/06.
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Divisions:
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CB
EC
FE
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Programs:
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Projects:
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Official Citation:
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Fullerton, A.H., T.J. Beechie, S.E. Baker, J.E. Hall, and K.A. Barnas. 2006.0Regional Patterns of Riparian Characteristics in the Interior Columbia River Basin, Northwestern USA: Applications for Restoration Planning. Landscape Ecology 21:1347-1360.
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last modified
02/16/2007
Web site owner: Northwest Fisheries Science Center
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