Dynamics of large wood in an eastern U.S. mountain stream

Abstract

Large wood (LW) is an important feature in many streams in northeastern North America, yet the dynamics (recruitment, movement, and export) of large wood remain largely undocumented for streams in this region. In this study we quantify the dynamics of LW in 400 m of a second-order, high gradient, boulder-dominated stream in the eastern Adirondack Mountains, NY. Characteristics and location of all LW (>1-m length, >10-cm diameter) in the 400-m study reach were initially recorded and pieces were individually tagged in November 2000. Subsequent surveys were conducted in late summer/fall of 2001, 2003, and 2004. Twenty-six% of the 112 pieces of LW initially tagged moved 5.0 m or more during the 4 years of this study. Mobile wood was, on average, shorter than non-mobile wood. Nearly all mobile wood was shorter than the 8.0-m bankfull width of the stream. From 2000 to 2004, 2.16 m 3 (0.54 m 3 100 m −1; 43 pieces) of LW entered the study reach and 0.7 m 3 (0.18 m 3 100 m −1; 13 pieces) left the stream. Retention of wood in debris dams was key to reducing potential export. For this stream, located within a second-growth mixed northern hardwood riparian forest that is approaching maturity, the net wood accumulation rate was estimated as ranging from 0.09 to 0.15 m 3 100 m −1 year −1. Our data support previous observations that LW length strongly influences its potential to move in high gradient streams, though debris dams can reduce LW movement rates and movement distances for wood of all sizes.