Record Details
Channel morphology and hydraulic characteristics of torrent-impacted forest streams in the Oregon Coast Range, U.S.A.
ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Title | Channel morphology and hydraulic characteristics of torrent-impacted forest streams in the Oregon Coast Range, U.S.A. |
| Names |
Kaufmann, Philip Robert
(creator) Beschta, Bob (advisor) |
| Date Issued | 1987-03-10 (iso8601) |
| Note | Graduation date: 1988 |
| Abstract | 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 of recovery since major torrent scour or deposition (2, 12 and 120 years). Transient storage ("dead zone") volume fractions, ranging from 0.3 to 0.6 in the study reaches, were significantly (p <.01) correlated with aggregate residual poo1 volume (r = +0.94) and the standard deviation of thalweg depth (r = +0.95). Darcy-Weisbach friction factors (f) ranging from 2 to 90 were correlated (r values from +0.95 to +0.98) with the standard deviation of thalweg depth (SDD) within restricted ranges of summer low flow and elevated springtime discharge. Regressions of f versus SDD for combined data collected over a range of discharges (0.019 to 0.11 m³/s) showed increased scatter. A semi-logarithmic relationship (r² = 0.60, n = 40) between dimensionless velocity (8/f) ⁰·⁵ and a dimensionless measure indexing relative submergence of large scale bed features (mean thalweg depth/SDD) was significant at p <.01. Measures and indices of pool volume and transient storage were positively correlated (r = +0.78 to +0.89) with volumetric loadings of woody debris. High total pool and dead zone volumes in reaches were largely due to plunge pools formed by scouring downstream of woody debris accumulations. Among the study streams, the greatest reach pool volume and channel complexity occurred in torrent deposit reaches of the intermediate (12 yr.) recovery stage stream. Reaches scoured recently (2 yr.) by a debris torrent had the lowest pool volume and channel complexity. The stream experiencing the longest period of "recovery" (120 yr) had characteristics between those of the 2- and 12-year recovery streams. Torrent scouring reduced pool volume, dead zone fraction and channel morphometric variability. Torrent deposition and subsequent local reworking of sediments by the stream increased values of these variables, especially when torrent deposits contained woody debris and boulders. The relative importance of pool-forming agents varied with recovery time and amount of torrent deposits. Bedrock, cobbles, log clusters, and single logs contributed about equally to the small residual pool volume in reaches recently scoured by a torrent. Log clusters and boulders dominated in two reaches of the intermediate recovery class stream where logs and sediment were deposited by a torrent, and in two reaches where boulders were left as lag deposits. Bedrock and log clusters contributed about equally to pool formation in the relatively undisturbed stream. |
| Genre | Thesis |
| Topic | Fish habitat improvement -- Coast Ranges |
| Identifier | http://hdl.handle.net/1957/9681 |
