Molybdenum is an essential component of biogeochemical cycling, most notably as a component of the nitrogenase enzyme used in biological nitrogen (N) fixation. While the important role of phosphorus (P) in limiting N fixation in ecosystems has been well documented, occurrence and prevalence of molybdenum (Mo) limitation is largely unknown....
Ecosystem nitrogen (N) supply strongly influences the availability and cycling of other essential nutrients in temperate forests, especially calcium (Ca). Short-term additions of N that exceed ecosystem demands often increase dissolved nitrate fluxes and decrease soil pH, which can stimulate soil Ca loss. However, the long-term effects of high N...
Understanding how N availability influences base cation stores is critical for long-term ecosystem sustainability. Indices of nitrogen (N) availability and the distribution of nutrients in plant biomass, soil, and soil water were examined across ten young, unpolluted Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) stands in the Oregon Coast Range spanning a three-fold soil...
Nitrogen (N) is an important nutrient for crop growth. Winter cover crops planted after a commercial crop is harvested, or relay planted before harvest, can provide N for subsequent crops, thus saving money and improving soil quality. Furthermore, cover crops can recover N remaining in the soil following summer crops,...
I examined factors regulating decomposition rates of red alder (Alnus rubra)) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) leaf litter in Coast Range riparian areas in western Oregon. Overall, this study was designed to examine the influence that leaf litter quality characteristics and decomposition site treatment have on decomposition rates, to provide a...
A study was conducted to evaluate the properties of soils in
the fog belt area of the Oregon Coast Range. Soils in the study
were chosen to include only those belonging to Andepts or to andic
subgroups. Samples were collected from eleven sites that were
formed mostly from colluvial deposits...
Daily and seasonal habitat use by Roosevelt elk was investigated
in the Oregon Coast Range on managed, public forestland. Over 3,700
locations of 6 radio-collared cow elk were recorded during 12 consecutive
months. Two elk formed part of a north band and 4 elk were
part of a south band....
A study of the temporal and spatial variability of stream gravel bed
composition and the factors affecting the amount of fine sediment within
the bed was conducted in the streams of the Oregon Coast Range.
Streambed samples were obtained by frozen core techniques and the
amount of sediment smaller than...
Forests in the Pacific Northwest receive very little nitrogen through atmospheric deposition and thus studying the nitrogen cycle in this region can provide insights into how the unpolluted nitrogen cycle functions. I examined the fate of organic nitrogen versus inorganic nitrogen and the effect of tamlins on N retention by...
Calcium (Ca) is an essential macronutrient that is increasingly recognized as a biogeochemical factor that influences ecosystem structure and function. Progress in understanding the sustainability of ecosystem Ca supply has been hampered by a lack of information on the various forms and pools of Ca in forest ecosystems. In particular,...
In the Pacific Northwest ecoregion of North America, sculpins represent a major constituent of freshwater assemblages in coastal rivers. Based on their prevalence and abundance, sculpins are likely important ecologically, yet little is known of their interactions with co-occurring species, such as widely studied salmon and trout (salmonines). In this...
Understanding the tradeoff between water use and productivity is critical for modeling growth of intensively managed Douglas-fir forests in the Pacific Northwest. Evapotranspiration is closely linked to carbon dioxide intake during the process of photosynthesis. However, summer drought characterizing the growing season in this region imposes a limit on carbon...
Forest landowners are interested in practicing alternative silviculture methods on their property without having to clearcut. This publication describes a case study on shelterwood harvest and two-aged stand management of a forest in the Oregon Coast Range. The landowner’s core management philosophy is to create forests that are both ecologically...
Debris flows, common disturbances in many mountainous areas, initially scour or bury stream habitats; however, debris flows deliver vast amounts of wood, boulders, and gravel that may ultimately form complex stream habitat to potentially support a diverse salmonid assemblage. The materials deposited by debris flows would otherwise be inaccessible to...
Sediment deposit ages inferred from radiocarbon dating of stream bank material were used to estimate residence times of valley-floor deposits in headwater valleys of the Oregon Coast Range, USA. Inherited ages of radiocarbon-dated material, i.e., time between carbon fixation in wood and its incorporation in a sediment deposit, can result...
Directly below commercial mint fields, percolation in excess of 10 ppm of nitrogen as nitrate (NO3 --N), the EPA drinking water standard, occurs for much of the year (Figure 1, page 2). Concentrations rise rapidly after irrigation starts in June, indicating that this nitrogen is being pushed through by irrigation...
A framework is presented for a more causal explanation and ordering of stream characteristics than traditional means have used. Patterns of stream habitat distribution are related to particular characteristics of the geomorphology of watersheds. Variability in stream characteristics can be explained by the spatial distribution of properties of the watershed...
During 1988-1989, stream habitat variables were compared between beaver-dam sites and unoccupied-stream sites to identify variables that may have been important for beaver (Castor canadensis) in selecting dam sites in the streams of the Drift Creek basin, Lincoln County, Oregon. Increasing valley floor width and grass/sedge cover and decreasing stream...
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of clearcut logging on stormflow by analysis of characteristic parameters of individual storm hydrographs. Parameters considered included height-of-rise, peak discharge, volume and time-to-peak. The hydrologic data were derived from experimental watersheds of the Alsea Study located in the Oregon Coast...
This study was undertaken to evaluate the occurrence and characteristics of undercut streambanks in forested headwater streams of the Oregon Coast Range. Undercut streambanks and associated reach characteristics were surveyed along 46 sample reaches (each 152 m in length) in 8 streams; all sample reaches occurred in unmanaged forested riparian...
Detailed phytosociological and physical data were gathered from six grass-fern balds in the Oregon Coast Range, Monmouth Peak, Grass Mountain, Prairie Peak, Roman Nose Mountain, Tyee Mountain, and Saddle Mountain. Panchromatic and color infrared air photography guided sampling within individual balds. The resultant floristic data was manipulated by a Braun-Blanquet...
Incidental to his outdoor activities such as farming, fern-picking, and horse logging, Darrel Faxon made 17.4 years of detailed observations at Thornton Creek during 1973-1990. He determined bird presence, not bird abundance, and made about 99,800 records, where a record is one bird species found during one day. Depending upon...
Forest managers of public lands in western Oregon and Washington have become increasingly interested in creating additional conifer cohorts in young, even-aged, second-growth Douglas-fir stands. The purpose of our research was to assess the establishment, survival, and growth of naturally-regenerated and underplanted conifers 10-13 years after overstory thinning and understory...
Fire history and fire regime were interpreted from tree ring analysis of 4320 stumps at 178 sites in a 25 by 55 km area in the central Oregon Coast Range. A total of 27 fire episodes were identified in a 516 year period, with sizes estimated at 18 to 544...
I compared species composition and relative abundance of'small
mammals and herpetofauna between riparian and upslope habitats among 5
forest types. Riparian- and upslope- associated species were identified
based on capture frequency. Small mammal species richness was similar
between stream and upslope habitats and among the 5 forest types. There
were...
Three studies were conducted to characterize and present early-seral
competition between Douglas-fir seedlings and the surrounding vegetation
communities during Pacific Northwest forest establishment. The first experiment
served as the foundation for this dissertation and was designed to quantify tradeoffs
associated with delaying forest establishment activities by introducing a fallow year...
The objectives of this thesis were to examine the links between soil microbial community composition and function using the nitrogen (N) cycle as a model for these interactions and to assess the impact of environmental factors such as microclimate, vegetation type, and nutrient availability on microbial diversity and N transformations...
Red tree voles (Arborimus longicaudus) are a unique species of Arvicoline rodent found in western Oregon and northwest California. Their preferred habitat is mature and old-growth coniferous forest dominated by Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). Tree voles are an important prey item for northern spotted owls and many other predators, but are...
Nest sites of reticulate sculpin (Cottus perplexus) were located in two stream reaches, one from a basalt basin and one from a sandstone basin. Stream reaches were similar in gradient, basin area, elevation, climate, and riparian vegetation but differed in biologic community structure and substrate characteristics. An electivity index was...
The sensitive lichen Usnea longissima Ach., formerly a fairly common circumboreal species, has been extirpated from much of its range (e.g., Eastern Europe). Although the U.S. Pacific Northwest (PNW) remains a relative stronghold for the species, U longissima faces increasing pressure in the region from habitat loss, air pollution, and...
I surveyed epiphytic macrolichens and bryophytes in six stands in each of seven riparian stand types in the Oregon Coast Range. This study (Chapter 2) describes the association of epiphytes with stand types and the corresponding potential of forest canopy conversions to affect epiphyte communities. Species composition, diversity, and representation...
This study estimates a range of opportunity costs associated with three land
management alternatives for a site in the Oregon Coast Range. A 35,000 acre site was
selected which includes a mix of federal and private land ownership and provides
significant biological resources. The first alternative examines a plan for...
Western hemlock forests in the coastal areas of Oregon are some of the most productive and diverse forests in the world. This rich diversity represents both a challenge and an opportunity for woodland owners interested in managing western hemlock on their property.
In western Oregon, hardwood trees occupy 20% of the
timberland but account for less than 1% of the timber
harvest. Information about how to manage them effectively
is limited.
The objective of this study was to examine: 1)
effect of thinning on tree growth, plant moisture stress,
and crown cover...
Analysis of the long-term spatial pattern and dynamics of hardwood patches in the Coast Range of Oregon provides numerous ecological insights. Natural and anthropogenic disturbances have contributed to the development of a patchy mosaic of vegetation types in the area. Some hardwood patches in the Coast Range may be the...
We have a poor understanding of the biotic communities in zero-order basins, drainages extending from ridgelines to the initiation of first-order streams. This study describes baseline plant and amphibian composition in unmanaged zero-order basins in the Oregon Coast Range. Specifically, I studied: i) the spatial distribution and diversity of species,...
Conflict over the best way to manage Oregon's public lands makes a land planner's job extremely challenging. Multiple uses, federal mandates, and constantly evolving knowledge all contribute to the difficulty of determining how to best use the land. The Coastal Landscape Analysis and Modeling Study (CLAMS) was developed in 1994...
Riparian areas that can be used as reference sites on which to base goals of vegetation restoration have not been documented in the Oregon Coast Range. I examined the composition and distribution of unmanaged riparian overstories in the central Oregon Coast Range along nine streams which have experienced minimal disturbance...
I examined the abundance and habitat associations of terrestrial amphibian species and the species richness of terrestrial amphibian communities in riparian buffer strips, clearcuts, and unmanaged riparian forests. The study was conducted in the western hemlock (Tsuga heteropliylla) vegetation zone of the northern and central Oregon Coast Range. Data were...
One of the goals of ecosystem management is to integrate management of many species and processes across a range of temporal and spatial scales. I investigated the relationship between small mammals and amphibians at 3 spatial scales. My objective
was to identify, habitat associations of forest floor vertebrates at the...
Red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.) is a fast-growing pioneer species that colonizes disturbed forest sites west of the Cascade Mountains in the Pacific Northwest.
Streambottoms, toe slopes, and mass movement of surface soils have historically provided the scarification and soil moisture necessary for successful regeneration of red
alder. During the...
Human-induced fragmentation of forests is increasing, yet the consequences of these landscape changes to vertebrate communities are poorly understood. Despite progress in our understanding of how bird communities
respond to forest fragmentation caused by agricultural or urban development, we have little understanding of these dynamics in landscapes undergoing intensive forest...
To quantify the distribution and abundance of the riparian-associated vertebrate community, I surveyed streams in four basins in the Oregon Coast Range, 1992-1994. I observed mostly birds with fewer observations of mammals. Belted Kingfishers (Ceryle alcyon), American Dippers (Cinclus mexicanus), Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias), and Mallards (Anus plalyrhynchos) comprised...
Tracer-derived estimates of hydraulic resistance and transient hydraulic
storage were related to measures of pool volume and channel morphometric
variability in small streams of the Oregon coast, U.S.A. Fourteen
100 m study reaches in 3 streams were selected to compare channel
and hydraulic characteristics in streams representing a time series...
This study is part of the effort to quantify sediment budgets and understand the geomorphic evolution of steep mountains where debris flows are the dominant agent of upland erosion. Observations indicate that headwater basins in the Oregon Coast Range (OCR) can store a large amount of sediment, mostly from debris...
Published February 1966. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog
The Early Oligocene Oregon Coast Range Intrusions (OCRI) consist of gabbroic rocks and lesser alkalic intrusive bodies that were emplaced in marine sedimentary units and volcanic sequences within a Tertiary Cascadia forearc basin. The alkalic intrusions include nepheline syenite, camptonite, and alkaline basalt. The gabbros occur as dikes and differentiated...
Riparian zone vegetation can influence terrestrial and aquatic food webs through variations in the amounts, timing, and nutritional content of leaf and other litter inputs. Differences in vegetation composition and density, as well as riparian topography, may modulate the strength and quality of these inputs. Changes in inputs to small...
The work upon which this publication is based was supported by funds provided by the United States Department of the Interior, Office of Water Research and Technology, as authorized under the Water Resources Research Act of 1964 and by the United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest...
Natural Douglas-fir stand development is the result of
many types of disturbance, both natural and management
induced. The magnitude and timing of these disturbances
have profound effects on the structure and composition of
both the overstory and understory plant communities. Vine
maple responds to disturbance by basal sprouting, layering,
producing...
Seedlings of Gaultheria shallon, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Rhododendron macrophyllum and Tsuga heterophylla were grown together in the greenhouse in soils from three young managed Douglas-fir forests in the Oregon Coast Range. The main objectives were 1 )to evaluate the ability of ericaceous plants and overstory conifers to share compatible mycorrhizal fungi...
Future scenarios of global climate change rely on large-scale climate envelope models that do not account for local climatic conditions to which organisms most closely respond. Shifts in species distributions and phenology driven by climate change are well-documented, yet we lack a strong understanding of how climate change will influence...
Land management policies are ideas about nature projected onto the landscape. Culminations of social, economic, and scientific influences, these policies create standards affecting the function of ecological systems. In the case of riparian lands in the Oregon Coast Range, policy requirements vary considerably across federal, state, and private land ownerships....
Large wood (LW) pieces are recognized as an important habitat component for salmon freshwater habitat. As such, they are often used in stream habitat restoration practices despite a lack of knowledge about their impacts on spatial and temporal hydraulic characteristics relevant to fish habitat. In this thesis we present results...
Channels that were scoured to bedrock by debris flows provided unique opportunities to calculate the rate of sediment and wood accumulation, to make inferences about processes associated with input and transport of sediment, and to gain insight into the temporal succession of channel morphology following disturbance. In an intensive investigation...
Improving vegetation management decisions in Pacific Northwest forests requires a better understanding of the interactions between
planted conifers and associated vegetation. A practical index of interspecific competition, and quantitative models predicting conifer performance from such an index are particularly needed. To meet this
need, neighborhood models of interspecific competition were...
Modified selection thinning has been utilized by some non-industrial foresters in Douglas-fir forests of Western Oregon and Washington for at least 35 years. This silvicultural strategy has not been tested, but has often been associated with reduced volume production and other undesirable effects. It continues to be used on many...
General outcomes of this study show that early growth of planted red alder is often slowed in the presence of neighboring vegetation, and overwhelmingly by salmonberry, a common associate in disturbed Oregon Coast Range habitats. Additionally, young red alder plantations located in
riparian areas may be highly susceptible to frost...
Many herbivores of the Pacific Northwest rely on forest understory shrub leaves for a source of nitrogen, energy, and moisture. I measured nitrogen, protein-binding capacity, and condensed tannin concentration as indicators of available nitrogen; cell wall constituents and lignin as indicators of available energy; and moisture concentration in young and...
This study was conducted to describe variation of riparian vegetation in an Oregon Coast Range system according to geomorphic characteristics and in relation to streamflow. Specific objectives of this study were to: I) examine if the vegetation composition and structure of the riparian forest varied among channel-reach morphologies, 2) examine...
The role of riparian forests in maintaining temperatures of headwater streams is well established and is a foundation of forest practice rules designed to protect streamwater quality. However, detailed investigation is still needed quantifying specific characteristics of stream systems that affect streamwater temperature including riparian features, stream morphology, and subsurface...
Precipitation data from 1988-1995 for 13 rain gauges of the Department of Forest
Engineering rain gauge network, and a longer precipitation record, 1976-1995, at Mapleton were analyzed. The objectives were to assess the spatial and temporal distribution of precipitation intensity and antecedent precipitation, and understand the role of these characteristics...
I studied abundance patterns and habitat use of eight cavitynesting bird species in the Coast Ranges of Western Oregon during the
spring and summer of 1985 and 1986. Three age classes of unmanaged Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) stands were selected for study:
young (40-80 yrs), mature (80-200 yrs), and old-growth (>200...
This publication is aimed at watershed councils, government agencies, and specialists (foresters, wildlife and fisheries biologists) interested in riparian area silviculture or watershed restoration. It contains information on the ecology of riparian forests and a checklist of recommended practices and common mistakes made in restoring conifers to hardwood-dominated riparian forests....
Vegetation provides food for many insects, and many insects serve as food for bats. We investigated the linkages among these three trophic levels in riparian areas throughout the Oregon Coast Range by examining the influence of vegetation cover, composition, and structure on the activity of nocturnal insects and bats, the...
Tree species directly and indirectly affect soil nutrient cycles. I sought to characterize soils and foliage associated with four common canopy tree species (Douglas-fir, western hemlock, western redcedar, and bigleaf maple) in mixed-species old-growth forests of the Oregon Coast Range and to determine whether and how soils differ among the...
Riparian areas in the Pacific Northwest provide important biotic and abiotic
features, such as down wood, moist microsites, and abundant invertebrate prey that
benefit aquatic and terrestrial amphibians. Reported high densities of amphibians from
streams and riparian areas in the Pacific Northwest highlight their importance in riparian
food webs. Amphibians...
Forest stands were studied to determine if old-growth
forest structure could be mimicked in younger stands via
overstory manipulation. Cover and species composition of
understory plants were systematically sampled in sixteen
thinned second-growth stands and sixteen adjacent unthinned
second-growth Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirabel)
Franco.) stands. The stands were thinned...
As part of investigations to evaluate the suitability of sheep grazing in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) plantations of Oregon's Coast Range, this research was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of sheep grazing in suppressing unwanted vegetation, determine seasonal variations in forage quality, and investigate the impact of sheep grazing on big...
A study of phosphorus loading and water quality implications was conducted for
the Oregon coastal lakes. The study was based on existing data for lake total phosphorus
concentrations and for watershed land uses. A phosphorus mass-balance model was
developed to predict lake total phosphorus concentrations from estimated phosphorus
loading from...
The objective of my study was to examine differences in riparian tree and shrub composition associated with adult aquatic emergence and implications for terrestrial spiders in these sites. Seasonal abundance and biomass of adult emergent aquatic insects, riparian arthropod abundances and spider densities were compared between conifer- and hardwood-dominated sites...
The growth of western hemlock during the first four
years of seedling establishment was examined in a competitive
environment in which seedlings were exposed to various types
of animal damage and salmonberry and/or alder competition.
The study utilized an existing Nelder/replacement series
experiment which focused on the competitive effects among...
Nutrient losses of the biologically responsive anions, nitrate and bicarbonate together with the major cations, were monitored on 14 small watersheds in Oregon's Coast Range and evaluated in relation to management-induced disturbance. Mixed forests of Douglas-fir and red alder had dominated these high-nitrogen sites prior to treatment. A paired-watershed experimental...
The amount and quality of competition among
individuals in developing plant communities is an important factor determining community structure, composition and development. In perennial plant communities, this competition is reflected by shifts in carbon allocation among plant parts and can result in long-term structural differences between neighboring individuals. This study...
Intragravel organic loading and intragravel dissolved oxygen were studied to determine the relationship between timber harvesting adjacent to first-, second-, and third-order streams and intragravel water quality. Twenty watersheds in the central Coast Range of western Oregon were studied of which five were undisturbed, nine were partially harvested, and six...
This study investigated the long-term consequences of timber stand removal on the recruitment, physical characteristics, and
spatial distribution of coarse woody debris in small (second- and third-order) streams of the Oregon Coast Range. A chronosequence of stream-stand systems, ranging from 21- to 140-years since disturbance (YSD), were sampled to determine...
Map delineations of soil and vegetation for a 14,000
acre (5,800 hectare) site in the Oregon Coast Range were
compared. Research objectives were to ascertain the
types of information that could be extracted from delineation
comparisons and to develop a methodology suited
to this purpose. The latter objective was achieved...
This study investigates patterns of physical structure organization in stream
networks. In particular, it seeks to describe patterns of wood, boulders, pools and slope
that are evident in stream channels and to determine whether patterns of these elements
are influenced by network-level controls. The four in-stream parameters were
combined to...
In the Coast Range of western Oregon, some natural resource managers are converting red alder-dominated riparian areas to conifers to increase the future source of in-stream large wood for salmonid habitat. However, studies in Alaska have shown red alder-dominated riparian areas support greater invertebrate biomass compared to conifer-dominated areas. In...
Populations of coastal cutthroat trout, Oncorhynchus clarki clarki, were sampled in 16 headwater streams from logged (20-30 and 40-60 years ago) and unlogged (stand age 125-150 years) basins. Basins logged 20-30 years ago supported the widest range of mean biomass of age 1+ or older cutthroat trout (g/m2) and the...
This research was designed to broaden the understanding of how timber-harvest affects aquatic macroinvertebrates in perennial and intermittent headwater streams. This study compared emergent and benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages from 20 headwater streams in the central Oregon Coast Range that varied by harvest condition and flow duration. Through comparison of the...
The undermining of bridge foundations can lead to either costly repairs or a bridge
collapse. These foundations must be designed to counter the effects of scour. Current
practice does not allow for accurate estimates of scour in erodible rock. Scour in rock can be related to geotechnical and hydraulic properties....
Published September 1983. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog
Few studies have evaluated non-migratory Roosevelt elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti)
interactions and habitat use on lands undergoing extensive timber removal. We captured and
radio-tracked for 14 months representatives from 29 different bands of elk across a 37,000 ha area
of Oregon's Coast Range. We identified 6 habitat variables within individual...
Published May 1993. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog
History is an invaluable source of information to understand and evaluate management influences on contemporary ecosystems and landscapes. The first two chapters (Chapters 2 and 3) explored the concept of historical range of variability (HRV) in landscape structure and stand structure using a stochastic fire simulation model to simulate presettlement...
This study focuses on the tradeoffs that exist for managing forested landscapes for biodiversity and timber production. Tradeoff evaluation is important to natural resource managers so they can understand the benefits and costs of alternative management prescriptions. The study examines three watersheds in the Oregon Coast Range and 166 terrestrial...
Patterns of western hemlock regeneration were studied in relation to forest structural development and environment in the Oregon Coast Range. Density of western
hemlock seedlings was examined across the climatic gradient from cool, moist coastal
areas to the seasonally hot and dry Willamette Valley Margin. Seedling densities were most strongly...
Growing concerns over maintaining animal and plant biodiversity have led to significant changes in forest management policies in the Pacific Northwest. Silvicultural alternatives to clear cutting are being suggested to promote development, retention, or creation of late-successional features such as large trees, multilayered canopies, snags and logs. As alternative management...
Red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.) is a common associate and a potentially severe competitor of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii [Mirb.] Franco) in the Oregon Coast Range. However, because it fixes nitrogen and increases rates of soil nutrient cycling, red alder has the potential to benefit Douglas-fir. The objective of...
Plants respond to defoliation in many different and complex ways, depending on their growth habit and form as well as the extent and duration of the defoliation. Tree crowns have been shown to be quite sensitive to disturbances such as defoliation, however quantitative relationships have rarely been developed, making the...
This study examined the abundance, size, growth, and age of advance regeneration
Douglas-fir, beneath an eighty year-old overstory at a single site on plots subjected to different overstory thinning treatments. Treatments consisted of keeping overstory basal area within upper and lower limits for periods of 12-17 years which, depending upon...
Forest roads alter hillslope hydrologic processes by intercepting, concentrating, and rerouting storm runoff. Current road drainage guidelines are based on minimizing erosion and do not take into account the impact of forest roads on hillslope hydrology. This work monitors ditch flow and rainfall for 10 road segments over the course...
Understanding the impact of low volume road networks on forested watersheds is important for future forest management and watershed restoration. This study characterized the hydrology of five segments of forest road in the Oregon Coast Range. Rainfall, infiltration, road surface runoff, and intercepted subsurface flow were measured at each road...
Stream systems in the Pacific Northwest have come to be understood in the absence of beaver (Castor canadensis). To understand the effect of beaver upon riparian plant communities, four basins in the lower Alsea drainage were examined to determine the effect of beaver and their impoundments on streamside herbaceous/shrub and...
Western forests have become increasingly fragmented landscapes dominated by young stands. Given that western Oregon forests largely consist of headwater systems, there is a need to better understand how headwater forest taxa and their habitats are impacted by forest management practices. Several amphibian species associated with forested headwater systems have...
DRAFT REPORT. In 2013 – 2015, reconnaissance observations were made across non-forest habitats on FS and BLM land in the Coast Range and Cascade foothills within the Salem and Eugene BLM district areas for plant communities that did not fit the USFS Northwest Oregon Non-forest Plant Community guide. Surveys were...
Fire and other catastrophic disturbance events in the Douglas-fir forests of the Oregon Coast Range have been significant in determining the distribution of stand age classes and, hence, habitat. Except for the past half century, knowledge of fire in the region has largely been local and anecdotal. The Douglas-fir forests...