Rates of lateral channel migration along the Mala Panew River (southern Poland) based on dating riparian trees and Coarse Woody Debris

Following fire, changes in streamflow and bank stability in burned watersheds can mobilize coarse woody debris. In 1990 and 1991, I measured characteristics of coarse woody debris and standing riparian trees and snags in Jones Creek, a watershed burned in 1988, and in Crow Creek, an unburned watershed. The mean diameter of riparian trees along Jones Creek was less than that of trees along Crow Creek, but the coarse woody debris in Jones Creek was greater in mean diameter. Tagged debris in Jones Creek was three times as likely to move, and moved over four times as far as such debris in Crow Creek. In Jones Creek, the probability of movement was higher for tagged pieces that were in contact with the stream surface. Larger pieces tended to be more stable in both streams. It appears that increased flows and decreased bank stability following fire increased the transport of coarse woody debris in the burned watershed. Overall, debris transport in Rocky Mountain streams may be of greater significance than previously recognized.

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The Effect and Extent of Railroad Tie Drives in Streams of Southeastern Wyoming

Western Journal of Applied Forestry ◽

10.1093/wjaf/9.4.125 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 125-130 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Michael K. Young ◽

David Haire ◽

Michael A. Bozek

Keyword(s):

Coarse Woody Debris ◽

Riparian Vegetation ◽

Riparian Zone ◽

Woody Debris ◽

Channel Structure ◽

National Forest ◽

Stream Channel ◽

Riparian Trees ◽

Large Trees

Abstract Millions of railroad ties were floated (driven) down streams in southeastern Wyoming between 1868 and 1940. We identified 61 tie-driven streams in or near the Medicine Bow National Forest. We hypothesized that tie drives, and the stream clearing associated with driving, altered channel morphology and riparian vegetation. When comparing stream reaches of similar width and gradient, we found that tie-driven stream reaches contained less coarse woody debris and had significantly lower densities of large riparian trees than did unaffected reaches. Tie-driven reaches had lower channel complexity, a greater proportion of riffles, and fewer plunge and dammed pools than did unaffected reaches. We found significant relations among characteristics of the riparian trees, coarse woody debris, and stream channel structure. Recovery of the affected reaches may be contingent on the long-term increase in large trees in the riparian zone. West. J. Appl. For. 9(4):125-130.

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The dynamics of coarse woody debris in boreal Swedish forests are similar between stream channels and adjacent riparian forests

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x06-015 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 36 (5) ◽

pp. 1139-1148 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Niklas Dahlström ◽

Christer Nilsson

Keyword(s):

Tree Species ◽

Coarse Woody Debris ◽

Riparian Forest ◽

Woody Debris ◽

Riparian Forests ◽

Stream Channels ◽

Terrestrial Environment ◽

Riparian Trees ◽

Forest Sites ◽

Coniferous Tree Species

Although numerous studies have focused on the dynamics of coarse woody debris (CWD) in boreal Fennoscandian forests, information on CWD in streams remains limited. To achieve a better understanding of CWD dynamics in streams we compared amounts and characteristics of CWD between streams and adjacent riparian forests in old-growth and managed forest sites, respectively. We also identified distances to the sources of CWD and evaluated these in relation to the lateral zonation of riparian trees. CWD volumes found in the stream channels were related to, but exceeded, the volumes found in the adjacent forest. In-channel volumes separated by species were better correlated with terrestrial volumes of CWD than with volumes of living trees. Tree species appeared to be zoned across the riparian zone, with slightly higher abundances of deciduous trees and lower abundances of Scots pine trees close to the stream. Similar to upland forests, riparian forests were dominated by coniferous tree species, mainly Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). These findings suggest large similarities in CWD input between streams and riparian forests and substantially slower decomposition rates in stream channels compared with those in riparian forest. The results provide an improved basis for creating reliable models of CWD supply and maintenance in streams based on knowledge of forest development and CWD dynamics in the terrestrial environment. Site productivity could potentially be used to predict CWD volumes in stream channels under pristine conditions.

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