Changes in the quantity and characteristics of large woody debris in streams of the Olympic Peninsula, Washington, U.S.A. (1982-1993)

Abstract

We assessed the changes in large woody debris (LWD) abundance and composition at 28 sites in 27 low-gradient Olympic Peninsula streams between 1982 and 1993. The average number of pieces of debris was virtually identical (P = 0.98) in both years (50.7 versus 50.6). However, we found a significant (P <= 0.01) reduction in the total volume of LWD material in the stream sites surveyed (51.7 m3 ·100 m-1 in 1982 to 38.2 m3 ·100 m-1 in 1993). While the mean volume of second-growth derived LWD increased from 3.6 to 10.9 m3 ·100 m-1 (P < 0.01), the increase was insufficient to offset the loss of old-growth derived LWD. The mean volume of old-growth derived LWD for all sites decreased from 48.1 to 27.4 m3 ·100 m-1 between sample years (P < 0.01). The mean diameter of second-growth derived LWD was significantly larger in 1993 than in 1982, although still smaller than old-growth derived pieces. We measured a significant increase in the percentage of LWD pieces rated as highly decayed from 1982 to 1993. The results indicate that the loss of old-growth derived LWD following the removal of old-growth riparian forests is initially very rapid, followed by a slower rate of depletion associated with watershed destabilization. Inputs of LWD from second-growth riparian forests up to 73 years old were characterized by small diameter, high mobility, and high decay rates.