2022 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Virtual Conference

March 13 - 15, 2022

<< BACK TO AGENDA

6/08/2017 | 10:15 AM - 10:30 AM | TRANSIENT STORAGE REFLECTS A GRADIENT OF LARGE-WOOD VOLUME IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA STREAMS | 302A

TRANSIENT STORAGE REFLECTS A GRADIENT OF LARGE-WOOD VOLUME IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA STREAMS

Transient storage is an important aspect of stream hydrology, but the response of storage metrics to changes in land-use remains poorly understood. For example, the reduction of in-stream large wood associated with forest timber harvest may exacerbate channel simplification and reduce transient storage. In contrast, restoration efforts to increase complexity via large wood additions may enhance storage. We explored the influence of in-stream structure on transient storage by conducting 33 tracer releases in 8 Southeast Alaska streams spanning a gradient of large-wood volume, including a restored reach. We conducted tracer additions at baseflow and stormflow to investigate whether storage metrics varied in a predictive fashion under different discharges. The relative area of storage and residence time were positively related to large-wood volume and were up to 5- and 10-fold higher, respectively, in streams with 5- to 15-fold higher large-wood volume. During stormflow, residence time decreased while storage area did not change. We found that large wood enhances channel transient storage, but that metrics generally did not change with increased discharge. Our results provide evidence that channel simplification has implications for in-stream transient storage, but restoration may mediate the impacts.

C14 Hydroecology
C10 Biogeochemistry
C16 Restoration Ecology

Presentation:
This presentation has not yet been uploaded.

Handouts:
Handout is not Available

Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference

Presenters/Authors

Jennifer L. Tank (), University of Notre Dame, tank.1@nd.edu;