This report provides guidance for the implementation of monitoring plans that evaluate the effects of forestry practices on the morphological characteristics of low-order streams in forested landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. The methodology discussed in this report will be incorporated into Washington's Watershed Analysis Manual and into the Timber, Fish and Wildlife Ambient Monitoring programs.
The specific objectives of the report are:
Provide a field-based methodology to delineate the spatial distribution of channel morphological types (based on the Montgomery and Buffington classification system) in order to help analysts in selecting specific channel reaches to be monitored.
Provide analysts with guidelines to identify the expected sensitive diagnostic features of specific channel reaches. The channel diagnostic reaches that have been identified as potentially sensitive to forestry practices are: channel dimensions (width, depth, slope), fine sediment in pools, fine sediment in riffles, channel roughness, surface particle patchiness, channel pattern, subsurface particle size distribution, bank erosion, scour depth, and general aggradation or degradation of the channel.
Give detailed descriptions of the data collection and analysis methods used to characterize the sensitive channel diagnostic features.
The report also includes thorough literature reviews on the following subjects:
Streambed surface sampling methods
Streambed subsurface sampling methods
Infiltration of fine sediment and its implications on stream gravel hydraulic conductivity
Bank erosion measurement methods
Copies of this report may be requested from Linda Chiles at the Department of Natural Resources in Washington (360/902-1419).