Estimating Wood Volume in Northern Forest Streams in Response to Forest Age, Landscape Position and Anthropogenic Disturbance
Large wood and woody debris dams are important habitat features in forested stream (riparian) ecosystems. Given the importance of wood to stream ecosystems, the volume, abundance, and characteristics of large wood in streams is of interest to researchers and managers alike. However, the standing stocks, or standing timber, and input rates for wood in streams is regionally specific and influenced by the composition of riparian forests, the geology of a region, and the types of regional disturbance. Prior to this study, information about the dynamics of wood in northeastern streams was scarce, therefore limited predictive information was available to individuals involved in stream research and management efforts.
NSRC researchers surveyed 28 forested streams across the northeastern United States, with a range of wood, stream, and riparian forest characteristics. Overall, the volume and frequency of wood in streams was most closely associated with the age of the dominant canopy trees in the riparian forest. Results indicate that the biomass of wood in streams will continue to increase as forests mature; that is, until dominant trees in the riparian forest reach up to 250 years of age or more.
The computer models developed in this study allow researchers to estimate current and future wood loading to forested streams in the Northeast from a few easily collected stream and riparian forest measurements. This information can be used by managers to estimate the amount of large wood that would be expected to occur within a given stream and to evaluate the amount of in-stream wood required to meet restoration goals.