A riverscape approach reveals downstream propagation of stream thermal responses to riparian thinning at multiple scales

Roon, David A.; Dunham, Jason B.; Torgersen, Christian E.

doi:10.1002/ecs2.3775

Cited by 12 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 96 publications

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“…Streams flowing through forests provide habitat for a diverse array of aquatic organisms [10,11] as well as serve as sources of drinking water for downstream communities [12]. Because headwater streams represent 80-90% of miles of any given river network [13], reducing impacts from forest harvest to headwater streams can have broad implications locally as well as downstream [11,14].…”

Section: Terrestrial Disturbances In Headwaters and The Role Of Ripar...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Stream nitrate enrichment and increased light yet no algal response following forest harvest and experimental manipulation of headwater riparian zones

et al. 2023

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Disturbances to forested watersheds often result in increases of nutrients and light to nearby streams. Such changes are generally expected to produce a shift to a more autotrophic aquatic ecosystem, with measurable increases in algae, and associated implications for food webs and fisheries. Although this paradigm is widely established, results from our 10-year study (2007–2016) in 12 headwater streams and four sites downstream in the Trask River Watershed (Oregon, USA), did not concur. In 2012, one watershed was thinned, three were clearcut harvested with variable buffers and three with uniform riparian buffers. After harvest, light to the stream surface significantly increased at the three watersheds with variable buffers while dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) significantly increased in all of the clearcut harvested streams. Despite the increase in DIN and light, algal standing stocks and chlorophyll a concentrations did not significantly increase. The common assumption of increased autotrophic responses in stream food webs following increases of nitrogen and light was not supported here. We postulate the co-limitation of nutrients, driven by low phosphorus concentrations, which unlike DIN did not increase post-harvest, and the characteristics of the algal community, which were dominated by low light adapted diatoms rather than green algae, contributed to our findings of no responses for standing stocks of epilithic algae or concentrations of chlorophyll a. The inclusion of multiple statistical analyses provided more certainty around our findings. This study documents responses to current forest practices and provides cautionary information for management and restoration activities aiming to increase fish abundance and standing stocks by opening riparian canopies and adding nutrients.

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Section: Terrestrial Disturbances In Headwaters and The Role Of Ripar...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Stream nitrate enrichment and increased light yet no algal response following forest harvest and experimental manipulation of headwater riparian zones

et al. 2023

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“…Finally, larger catchments would require more extensive harvesting to impact streamflow (Brown et al, 2005; Zhang et al, 2017); therefore, the potential moderating influence of increased streamflow on stream temperature response may not be sufficient if only a small portion of the catchment is harvested. A number of complexities emerge when scaling from small headwater systems to larger stream networks, such as changes in dominant hydrologic and energy exchange processes, as well as interactions between cumulative effects (Bladon et al, 2018; Leach et al, 2021; Roon et al, 2021). Further research is needed to understand stream temperature response to forest disturbance at network scales (Jones, 2010; Steel et al, 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing stream temperature response and recovery for different harvesting systems in northern hardwood forests using 40 years of spot measurements

Leach

Hudson

Moore

2022

Hydrological Processes

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Stream temperature is a critical control on aquatic habitat and a key forest management concern in many jurisdictions. Most research on stream temperature response to forest harvesting is from coniferous forests in rain‐dominated watersheds and focused on the first few years following harvesting. In contrast, we know less about the harvesting impacts on stream temperature for silviculture approaches typically used in northern hardwood forests that are influenced by snow. We addressed this knowledge gap by using four decades (1980 to 2020) of spot water temperature measurements recorded at three treatment and two reference catchments (areas 4.5 to 69 ha) as part of a long‐term water quality monitoring programme at the Turkey Lakes Watershed study near the eastern shores of Lake Superior. We were able to control for diel and seasonal biases in the spot temperature measurements and found that clearcut harvesting showed a summer temperature increase that persisted for 5 to 7 years after harvesting. Shelterwood and selection harvest did not exhibit a detectable change in stream temperature. These responses are consistent with observed changes in forest canopy through time and between harvesting approaches. In addition, the stream temperature responses were likely muted due to the streams being short and characterized by intermittent flow conditions, as well as the potential moderating influence of increased subsurface runoff following harvesting. Our results highlight how insights can be extracted from routine water quality programmes that were hitherto unrecognized.

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“…These results are also consistent with studies of stream warming following forest harvests (Groom et al, 2011; Moore, Spittlehouse, & Story, 2005). For example, Roon, Dunham, & Torgersen et al, (2021) reported the magnitude of warming and downstream extent of heated water was proportional to the length of stream reach adjacent to harvests. Water temperatures eventually cooled with distance below the harvest units, once the streams were again shaded by riparian vegetation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We did not estimate how warming varied by pond area, but warming was shown to increase in relation to pond area in other studies (Fuller & Peckarsky, 2011) and remains a topic for future research. Like Roon, Dunham, & Torgersen et al, (2021), however, we expect that the distance over which warmer stream temperatures persisted downstream was related to the magnitude of warming.…”

Section: Downstream Warmingmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Furthermore, existing research has focused on more proximate impacts of ponds by studying conditions within these systems or just immediately downstream of them (e.g., Dittbrenner, 2019; Majerova et al, 2015; Means, 2018; Weber et al, 2017). This leaves important questions unanswered regarding the longitudinal extent and duration of any potential influences of beaver ponds on downstream reaches (e.g., Roon, Dunham, & Torgersen, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dammed water quality—Longitudinal stream responses below beaver ponds in the Umpqua River Basin, Oregon

et al. 2022

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Beaver‐related restoration (BRR) has gained popularity as a means of improving stream ecosystems, but the effects are not fully understood. Studies of dissolved oxygen (DO) and water temperature, key water quality metrics for salmonids, have demonstrated improved conditions in some cases, but warming and decreased DO have been more commonly reported in meta‐analyses. These results point to the contingencies that can influence outcomes from BRR. We examined water quality related to beaver ponds in a diverse coastal watershed (Umpqua River Basin, OR, USA). We monitored water temperature 0–400 m above and below beaver ponds and at pond surfaces and bottoms across seven study sites from June through September of 2019. DO was also recorded at two sites at pond surfaces and pond bottoms. Downstream monthly mean daily maximum temperatures were warmer than upstream reference locations by up to 1.9°C at beaver dam outlets but this heating signal attenuated with downstream distance. Downstream warming was greatest in June and July and best predicted by pond bottom temperatures. DO at pond surfaces and bottoms were hypoxic (≤5 mg/L) for more than half of the 32‐day monitoring period. Water temperatures increased for short distances below monitored beaver ponds and observed oxygen conditions within ponds were largely unsuitable for salmonid fishes. These findings contrast with some commonly stated expectations of BRR, and we recommend that managers consider these expectations prior to implementation. In some cases, project goals may override water quality concerns but in streams where temperature or DO restoration are objectives, managers may consider using BRR techniques with caution.

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A riverscape approach reveals downstream propagation of stream thermal responses to riparian thinning at multiple scales

Abstract: A riverscape approach reveals downstream propagation of stream thermal responses to riparian thinning at multiple scales.

Cited by 12 publications

References 96 publications

Stream nitrate enrichment and increased light yet no algal response following forest harvest and experimental manipulation of headwater riparian zones

Stream nitrate enrichment and increased light yet no algal response following forest harvest and experimental manipulation of headwater riparian zones

Assessing stream temperature response and recovery for different harvesting systems in northern hardwood forests using 40 years of spot measurements

Dammed water quality—Longitudinal stream responses below beaver ponds in the Umpqua River Basin, Oregon

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