scholarly journals Spatial Distribution of Large Woody Debris on the Snake River, Grand Teton National Park

Author(s):  
Richard Marston ◽  
Robin Gray

Large woody debris (LWD) plays a key role in controlling the ecology and geomorphology of streams. Woody debris traps coarse particulate organic matter and sediments (Andersen and Sedell, 1979; Bilby and Likens, 1980; Marston, 1982); provides habitat for aquatic insects (Angermeier and Karr, 1984; Benke et al., 1985); and provides cover in pools and slow water areas (Bisson et al., 1982, 1987; Tschaplinski and Hartman, 1983; Fausch and Northcote, 1992). The role of wood in affecting stream morphology is dependent on the size of the stream (Bilby and Ward, 1989). In smaller streams, woody debris can create step pool sequences (Heede, 1972, 1985; Marston, 1982), increase pool area (Murphy and Hall, 1981; Ralph et al., 1994), and reduce sediment transport (Bilby, 1984). Nakamura and Swanson (1993) noted that the importance of woody debris to the morphology of first order streams can be limited by the size of the debris, which is often large enough to bridge the channel and not interact with the flow. Woody debris plays a larger role when it enters the channel bottom, where it can divert flow and affect erosion and deposition. The scale issues raised by Bilby and Ward (1989) and Nakamura and Swanson (1993) are critical to understanding the role of woody debris. To date, LWD has not been adequately studied at watershed scales in larger rivers. In fact, there is little understanding of the relationship between LWD and the geomorphic pattern of the river channel (Piegay and Marston, 1998; Piegay and Gumell, 1997; Piegay, 1993). The purpose of this study is to document the distribution of LWD jams on the Snake River in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming in order to understand the effects of LWD on channel morphology in large river systems.

Author(s):  
Bob Gresswell ◽  
Kris Homel

The Snake River finespotted cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii behnkei has been formally recognized as a subspecies of cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii, but it is more generally perceived as a morphologically divergent ecotype of the more broadly distributed Yellowstone cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri. This large-river cutthroat trout has persisted in the Snake River downstream of Jackson Lake Dam through a century of flow regulation. Although there is a popular sport fishery focused on this native trout, spawning and distribution patterns throughout its range are poorly understood. Consequently, it is difficult to predict how future disturbances (e.g., climate change or an increase in the prevalence of nonnative species) may affect behavior or persistence. In 2008, radio telemetry techniques were used to identify spawning patterns of cutthroat trout. From August-October, 2007, 49 radio telemetry tags were implanted into cutthroat trout in the Snake River, Grand Teton National Park and fish movements were tracked during the spawning season. Significant temporal and spatial variability in spawning behavior was observed (n = 22 fish with distinct spawning migrations). The earliest spawning migration began at the end of April, and the last spawning migration was initiated in mid-July. Spawning was observed in the mainstem and side channels of the Snake River, several tributaries, and three major spring creek complexes. Although the majority of this spawning activity occurred within 40 km of the respective original tagging location, three fish migrated to spawning areas 75-100 river kilometers away. Ultimately, developing a comprehensive understanding of the behavioral variability of Snake River finespotted cutthroat trout and the habitat connectivity required to complete the life cycle will provide new insights into the management of this portion of the Snake River.


Author(s):  
William Gribb ◽  
Henry Harlow

This project had two components, with the first component providing a background for the second component. Water resources in Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) are both unregulated and regulated by human management. The Jackson Lake Dam and the ponds scattered across the park influence the flow of water. In the process of managing the water it is important to have knowledge of the different components of the streams through which the water flows. One component of this project was to examine the different segments of the major rivers in GTNP and identify the river forms that are displayed by the different reaches of the Snake River above and below Jackson Lake, Buffalo Fork and Pacific Creek. The river form can be segregated into three main categories; the single channel, the meandering channel and the braided channel (Knighton 1984). The different river forms are part of the overall structural composition of the river and can be used to delineate the segments or reaches of the river. The river continuum concept presented by Vannote et al. (1980) provides a theoretical background upon which to construct the river reach system. In 2007, Nelson (2007) completed a reach system project while investigating the fluvial geomorphology of the Snake River below Jackson Lake Dam (Figure 1.). His 20 river reaches provided a zonation of the river that incorporated a range of geomorphic features. This same type of system can be used throughout the GTNP so that researchers have a common spatial unit designation when referencing portions of the Snake River and its tributaries. Ackers (1988) in his work on alluvial channel hydraulics identified three dimensions of meanders that should be considered; width, depth and slope. He further agreed with Hey (1978) that there are nine factors that define river geometry and that these should be considered as well: average bank full velocity, hydraulic mean depth, maximum bank full depth, slope, wave length of bed forms, their mean height, bank full wetted perimeter, channel sinuousity and arc length of meanders. Nelson’s work (Nelson 2007) added another parameter by including a braiding index into the representation of river reach designations. In a more recent work, the Livers and Wohl (2014) study confirmed Nelson’s approach by comparing reach characteristics between glacial and fluvial process domains using similar reach designation characteristics to determine reach differences.


Author(s):  
Ryan Kovach ◽  
Lisa Eby

The cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarki is Wyoming's only native trout. The Yellowstone cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri) is designated as a "species of special concern" by a number of agencies and conservation groups. Although the Yellowstone cutthroat trout has recently avoided federal listing because of robust headwater populations (USFWS 2006), they face continued threats across their range. The fine-spotted Snake River native trout is a morphologically divergent ecotype of the Yellowstone subspecies, although it is not genetically distinguishable (Allendorf and Leary 1988, Novak et al. 2005). The Gros Ventre, an important tributary of the Snake River located partially in Grand Teton National Park, historically supported robust populations of fine­ spotted Snake River cutthroat trout. Principal threats to Gros Ventre native trout, especially in the lower end of the drainage within the park boundaries, include both water diversions (loss of water and fish into irrigation ditches) and presence of exotic species.


Author(s):  
Michael Smith ◽  
Jerrold Dodd ◽  
Paul Meiman

The Snake River plains and foothill areas of Jackson Hole have been grazed by domestic livestock since settlement of the area. Wildlife populations, including elk, mule deer, and antelope have historically used and continue to use the area. Moose are currently relatively abundant and a small herd of bison have been introduced. Currently, livestock use part of the area contained in Grand Teton National Park either as a concession or due to authorization by Park enabling legislation. Park managers need information concerning the effects of grazing by large ungulates on vegetation resources to assist in effectively managing grazing to service forage needs and achieve desired plant community goals.


Author(s):  
Yolonda Youngs

This study traces the development and evolution of Snake River use and management through an in-depth exploration of historic commercial scenic river guiding and concessions on the upper Snake River in Grand Teton National Park (GRTE) from 1950 to the present day. The research is based on a combination of methods including archival research, oral history analysis, historical landscape analysis, and fieldwork. I suggest that a distinct cultural community of river runners and outdoor recreationalists developed in Grand Teton National Park after World War II. In GRTE, a combination of physical, cultural, and technical forces shaped this community’s evolution including the specific geomorphology and dynamic channel patterns of the upper Snake River, the individuals and groups that worked on this river, and changes in boat and gear technology over time. The following paper presents the early results from the first year of this project in 2016 including the work of a graduate student and myself. This study offers connections between the upper Snake River and Grand Teton National Park to broader national trends in the evolution of outdoor recreation and concessions in national parks, the impact of World War II on technological developments for boating, and the cultural history of adventure outdoor recreation and tourism in the United States.   Featured photo by Elton Menefee on Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/AHgCFeg-gXg


Author(s):  
N. Qwynne Lackey ◽  
Kelly Bricker

Concessioners play an important role in park and protected area management by providing visitor services. Historically, concessioners were criticized for their negative impacts on environmental sustainability. However, due to policy changes, technological advances, and shifting market demands, there is a need to reevaluate the role of concessioners in sustainable destination management in and around parks and protected areas. The purpose of this qualitative case study situated in Grand Teton National Park (GTNP), which was guided by social exchange theory, was to explore U.S. national park concessioners’ influence on sustainable development at the destination level from the perspective of National Park Service (NPS) staff, concessioners, and local community members. Sustainability was examined holistically as a multifaceted construct with integrated socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental dimensions. Twenty-three participants completed semistructured interviews. Researchers identified four thematic categories describing concessioners’ influence on sustainability; motivations and barriers to pursuing sustainability initiatives; and situational factors that facilitated concessioners’ sustainability actions. While participants commented on the negative environmental impacts of concessioners and their operations, these data suggest that concessioners were working individually and collaboratively to promote environmental, socioeconomic, and cultural sustainability in and around GTNP. Some concessioners were even described as leaders, testing and driving the development of innovative sustainability policies and practices. These actions were motivated, in part, by contractual obligations and profit generation. However, concessioners also had strong intangible motivators, such as intrinsic values and a strong sense of community, that drove their positive contributions to sustainability. Based on these data, we recommend that those involved in future theoretical and practical work with concessioners acknowledge the importance of both tangible and intangible motivators when attempting to promote higher levels of sustainability achievement and collaboration. This will become increasingly important as land management agencies continue to embrace strategies beyond the traditional “parks as islands” approach to management. Additionally, future work should explore more specifically the role of policy, conceptualizations of sustainability, and private industry sponsorship in promoting concessioners’ contributions to sustainability, especially in collaborative settings. This work is needed to understand if and how these observations generalize to other contexts.


2019 ◽  
Vol 124 (12) ◽  
pp. 2854-2876 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Grilliot ◽  
I. J. Walker ◽  
B. O. Bauer

1977 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 327-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Pitchford ◽  
B. Wolstenholme

ABSTRACTA further survey in East Caprivi, Chobe National Park, Okavango swamps and Kavango was undertaken in June 1976. No evidence of lechwe schistosomes was found in droppings of African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) nor baboons (Papio ursinus) living in lechwe habitats. It was thought that they were not capable of spreading or maintaining these parasites outside the confines of the known distribution of Kobus sp. The role of goats was equivocal but probably they too are poor hosts.Kavango, an endemic area of S. haematobium and S. mansoni, was thought to be free of all animal schistosomes, thus confirming the hypotheses that (1) cattle and goats are poor hosts of the lechwe schistosomes and (2)S. mattheei was blocked from entering the territory by the presence of lechwe schistosomes in the surrounding areas. Evidence of schistosomes was not found in cattle and goats at Maun for the same reasons. The prevalence of S. mansoni at Maun has increased alarmingly over the past 20 years with a simultaneous disappearance of lechwe from the area. S. margrebowiei and S. leiperi eggs were found in lechwe and tsessebe droppings some 80 km north of Maun.A high proportion of children with negative excreta from “non-endemic” areas in East Caprivi had positive CFT and/or skin tests, suggestive of exposure to lechwe schistosomes resulting in a possible immunity to S. mansoni and S. haematobium.


Author(s):  
Michael Smith ◽  
Jerrold Dodd ◽  
Uyapo Omphile ◽  
Paul Meiman

The Snake River plains and foothill areas of Jackson Hole have been grazed by domestic livestock since settlement of the area. Wildlife populations, including elk, mule deer, and antelope have historically used and continue to use the area. Moose are currently relatively abundant and a small herd of bison have been introduced. Currently, livestock continue to use part of the area contained in Grand Teton National Park either as a concession or due to authorization by Park enabling legislation. Park managers need information concerning the effects of grazing by large ungulates on vegetation resources to assist in effectively managing grazing to achieve desired plant community goals.


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