Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
A study on environmental determinants of riparian vegetation was ongoing. Data collection continued for the repeated measures experiment using grazing treatment effect on cottonwood and willow demography along the upper Missouri River in Montana. Results to date show that for the observed flow regime, patches most suitable for seedling establishment are also subject to future disturbance that kills seedlings. Some of the mortality is density dependent. Survival was higher in areas protected from livestock grazing. Data from a study relating physical factors such as climate and streamflow pattern to the distribution of common woody riparian species, with an emphasis on Russian olive and salt cedar was used to address a question concerning broad distribution patterns and environmental factors. Data indicates that Tamarix ramosissima and Elaeagnus angustifolia are already the third and fourth most frequently occurring woody riparian plants in the region. The frequency of
occurrence of T. ramosissima has a strong positive relation with the mean annual minimum temperature, which is consistent with hypothesized frost sensitivity. In contrast, the frequency of occurrence of E. angustifolia decreases with increasing minimum temperatures. Based on mean normalized cover, T. ramosissima and E. angustifolia are the second and fifth most dominant woody riparian species in the western United States. At this point, their eradication from the semi-arid west is unlikely. A reconnaissance mapping study of the relationship between fluvial geomorphic processes and floodplain vegetation of the Upper Yellowstone River between Gardiner and Springdale Montana was completed. The study reach was stratified according to channel morphology and three to nine sites from each stratum were randomly sampled. Floodplain turnover period was determined by coring trees to map the change in the river channel over time. Age patches were delineated and a fine scale analysis was done
using fixed plots and coring trees within the fixed plots to get the age distribution within an age patch. Over 2,000 trees were cored. Sites were surveyed for elevation data and vegetation types were mapped as well. Although, the general appearance of the vegetation and river system is similar to that of 100 years ago, retrospective age distributions and real-time trend analysis reveal a reduction in fluvial activity, cottonwood recruitment on an aerial basis, and cottonwood forest area. The flood plain turnover period for the braided strata is between 550 and 1700 years. Dated flood plain area was positively correlated with flood size, and cottonwood area decay curves indicate that most flood plain erosion and deposition occurs during large floods. Agriculture has caused a net reduction in forest area in the last 50 years, but loss to natural succession was about twice the loss due to agricultural conversion. Diversity of vegetation types was higher in naturally-unconfined, braided
channel reaches compared to naturally-confined, single-thread channel reaches. Patch sizes were larger, and hydric and mesic plants were more common in the un-confined strata.
Impacts
Understanding the factors that control the abundance of Russian olive and salt cedar allows predicting invasion and perhaps their control by modifying physical factors. An understanding of the relationship between fluvial geomorphic processes and floodplain vegetation will help in the assessment of cumulative effects of bank stabilization projects incorporating the results of hydraulic modeling and floodplain dynamics.
Publications
- Merigliano, M. F. and M. L. Polzin, 2003. Temporal patterns of channel migration, fluvial events, and associated vegetation along the upper Yellowstone River, Montana. Final Report to The Governor's Upper Yellowstone River Task Force and U.S. ArmyCorps of Engineers, Omaha District.
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Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02
Outputs
A study of in-stream flow requirements for riparian vegetation community maintenance (funded by the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station) was finished this year. A total of 18 channel transects were surveyed across streams and rivers in the vicinity White Sulfur Springs in west-central Montana. The transects cut across 15 different riparian dominance types. The transects include shallow groundwater observation wells located at the ecotones between banded riparian community (habitat) types. Vegetation was inventoried for species diversity and coverage in large sample plots. Soils were assessed for depth-to-hydric indicators. Groundwater recession was monitored and the duration of inundation and depth-to-saturation for the various riparian communities was documented. Analysis suggested that Inundation duration was an important aspect of riparian habitat distribution; there was a clear distinction between habitats that experienced significant periods of
inundation and those that did not have any inundation during the growing season. Depth to water had a less distinct influence on riparian distribution; in general, willow habitats had high water tables and a small range of values. The sedge types had the highest variablility in water table elevations. Soil texture appeared to be highly variable among the habitats. Final results were reported in Stephanie Mulica's MS thesis. A second study on environmental determinants of riparian vegetation was also ongoing. Another season of data collection was conducted for the repeated measures experiment using grazing treatment effect on cottonwood and willow demography along the upper Missouri River in Montana. This is a long-term project, but one publication (Auble and Scott 1998) is available. Results show that for the observed flow regime, patches most suitable for seedling establishment are also subject to future disturbance that kills seedlings. Some of the mortality is density dependent.
Survival was higher in areas protected from livestock grazing. During 2001 twenty eight sites were sampled in California for the other aspect of this study that relates physical factors such as climate and streamflow pattern to the distribution of common woody riparian species, with an emphasis on Russian olive and salt cedar.
Impacts
Russian olive and salt cedar are exotic and invasive, and understanding the factors that control their abundance allows predicting invasion and perhaps their control by modifying physical factors. Past studies along the Missouri River indicate that cottonwood and willow recruitment is deficient, and flow regulation at upstream dams, cattle use on the flood plain, and natural ice drives are possible causes. This study assesses the long-term impact of these causes.
Publications
- Mulica, S. 2002. Unpublished MS Thesis University of Montana School of Forestry.
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Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01
Outputs
A study of in-stream flow requirements for riparian vegetation community maintenance (funded by the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station) continued with its second year of field study. A total of 18 channel transects have been surveyed across streams and rivers in the vicinity White Sulfur Springs in west-central Montana. The transects cut across 15 different riparian dominance types. The transects include shallow groundwater observation wells located at the ecotones between banded riparian community (habitat) types. Vegetation was inventoried for species diversity and coverage in large sample plots. Soils have been assessed for depth-to-hydric indicators. A second field season continued to monitor groundwater recession and document duration of inundation and depth-to-saturation for the various riparian communities. Initial analysis suggests that Inundation duration was an important aspect of riparian habitat distribution; there was a clear distinction
between habitats that experienced significant periods of inundation and those that did not have any inundation during the growing season. Depth to water had a less distinct influence on riparian distribution; in general, willow habitats had high water tables and a small range of values. The sedge types had the highest variablility in water table elevations. Soil texture appeared to be highly variable among the habitats. Final results will be reported in Stephanie Mulica's MS thesis. A study on environmental determinants of riparian vegetation is also ongoing. Another season of data collection was conducted for the repeated measures experiment using grazing treatment effect on cottonwood and willow demography along the upper Missouri River in Montana. This is a long-term project, but one publication (Auble and Scott 1998) is available. Results show that for the observed flow regime, patches most suitable for seedling establishment are also subject to future disturbance that kills
seedlings. Some of the mortality is density dependent. Survival was higher in areas protected from livestock grazing. During 2001 twenty eight more sites (in California) were sampled for the other aspect of this study that relates physical factors such as climate and streamflow pattern to the distribution of common woody riparian species, with an emphasis on Russian olive and salt cedar.
Impacts
Russian olive and salt cedar are exotic and invasive, and understanding the factors that control their abundance allows predicting invasion and perhaps their control by modifying physical factors. Past studies along the Missouri River indicate that cottonwood and willow recruitment is deficient, and flow regulation at upstream dams, cattle use on the flood plain, and natural ice drives are possible causes. This study assesses the long-term impact of these causes.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/00 to 12/31/00
Outputs
The watershed assessment of the Bair Ranch on the Tenderfoot Creek in Central Montana has been completed and a masters thesis has been successfully written and defended by Steven Kem. Field assessments included evaluation of the potential impacts of nearly one hundred years of grazing and more recent road construction and timber harvest on the native cutthroat trout population. Assessments included fine sediment, nutrients, stream temperature, riparian ecological condition, canopy cover removal and road design and density. A number of management and restoration recommendations were made to the Bair Ranch and other landowners in the watershed. A study of in-stream flow requirements for riparian vegetation community maintenance (funded by the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station) has completed the first year of field study. A total of 22 channel transects have been surveyed across streams and rivers in the vicinity White Sulfur Springs in west-central
Montana. The transects cut across 15 different riparian dominance types. The transects include shallow groundwater observation wells located at the ecotones between banded riparian community (habitat) types. Vegetation was inventoried for species diversity and coverage in large sample plots. Soils have been assessed for depth-to-hydric indicators. A second field season will continue to monitor groundwater recession and document duration of inundation and depth-to-saturation for the various riparian communities. Stephanie Mulica is the graduate student working on this project which is subject for her MS thesis. A study on environmental determinants of riparian vegetation is also ongoing. Another season of data collection was conducted for the repeated measures experiment using grazing treatment effect on cottonwood and willow demography. This is a long-term project, but one publication (Auble and Scott 1998)is available. Results show that for the observed flow regime, patches most
suitable for seedling establishment are also subject to future disturbance that kills seedlings. Much of the mortality is density dependent, and mortality was less in areas protected from livestock grazing. During 2000 twenty more sites (1 in Montana and 19 in North Dakota) were sampled for the other aspect of this study that relates physical factors such as climate and streamflow pattern to the distribution of common woody riparian species, with an emphasis on Russian olive and salt cedar.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/99 to 12/31/99
Outputs
A study on environmental determinants of riparian vegetation is ongoing. One aspect of this study is a repeated measures experiment using grazing treatment effect on cottonwood and willow demography. This is a long-term project, but one publication, Auble and Scott 1998, is available. Results show that for the observed flow regime, patches most suitable for seedling establishment are also subject to future disturbance that kills seedlings. Much of the mortality is density dependent, and mortality was less in areas protected from livestock grazing. The other aspect of this study relates physical factors such as climate and streamflow pattern to the distribution of common woody riparian species, with an emphasis on Russian olive and salt cedar. This study is in the data collection phase. The field-based data is nearly complete, and available site data is being gathered now. The watershed assessment of the Bair Ranch on the Tenderfoot Creek in Central Montana is ongoing
and a masters thesis is in preparation. In addition to this Bair Ranch study, a study plan has been completed for Riparian Vegetation In Stream Flow Req of the Tenderfoot Creek in Central Montana.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Auble, G.T. and M.L. Scott. 1998. Fluvial Disturbance Patches and Cottonwood Recruitment Along the Upper Missouri River, Montana. Wetlands, 18 4 546-556.
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Progress 01/01/98 to 12/31/98
Outputs
A demonstration study on the use of prescribed fire to restore seral vegetation in riparian forests has been completed. Fire treatments were made in two study areas. Final evaluation of changes in baseline water quality and mapping and evaluation of changes in organic debris and channel morphology were assessed. Negligible changes in water chemistry, particularly nitrate levels, occurred. However, there were significant changes in the channel morphology. A second study completed pre-disturbance stream characterization for a highway construction project and conducted post-disturbance characterizations of the affected streams which include stage-discharge rating curves, sediment rating curves, channel cross-section analysis, streambed particle size analysis and some basic field and laboratory water chemistry analysis. Results showed there were sizable changes in sediment discharge relationships and on a few occasions short lived violations of water quality standards.
Overall, there were few changes in channel integrity associated with the highway construction. A third study on environmental determinants of riparian vegetation is ongoing. One aspect of this study is a repeated measures experiment using grazing treatment effect on cottonwood and willow demography. This is along-term project, but one publication is out. The other aspect of this study relates physical factors such as climate and stremflow pattern to the distribution of common woody riparian species, with an emphasis on Russian olive and salt cedar. This is still in the data collection phase. A study plan has been completed for a watershed assessment of the Bair Ranch on the Tenderfoot Creek in Central Montana.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Auble, G.T. and M.L. Scott. 1998. Fluvial Disturbance Patches and Cottonwood Recruitment Along the Upper Missouri River, Montana. Wetlands, 18(4):546-556.
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Progress 01/01/97 to 12/31/97
Outputs
A demonstration study on the use of prescribed fire to restore seral vegetation in riparian forests is entering the final phase. Fire treatments were made in one study area and are expected in the second study area in the spring of 1998. Final evaluation of changes in baseline water quality and mapping and evaluation of changes in organic debris and channel morphology will be assessed. A second study has completed pre-disturbance stream characterization for a highway construction project and is conducting post-disturbance characterizations of the affected streams which include stage-discharge rating curves, sediment rating curves, channel cross-section analysis, streambed particle size analysis and some basic field and laboratory water chemistry analysis. The monitoring is scheduled to continue in 1998 and 1999 during which time investigators will be looking for construction related changes in any of the pre-disturbance stream parameters. A third study on
environmental determinants of riparian vegetation was begun in the fall.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Moeckel, J. and D.F. Potts. 1997. Stream channel adjustment following a major flood on a northern Rocky Mountain Front stream. In: Proceedings, AWRA 1996 Summer Symposium on watershed restoration,
- D.S. OLSEN, A.C. WHITAKER & D.F. POTTS. 1997. Assessing stream channel stability thresholds using flow competence estimates at bankfull stage. Journal of the American Water REsources Association
- MOECKEL. J. 1997. Inventory and clasification of streams on the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch, Dupuyer, Montana. Unpublished Masters Thesis. University of Montana, School of Forestry, Missoula,
- HAYES. S.W. 1997. The amount, function, and relationship to channel stability of large woody debris in minimally disturbed western Montana streams. Unpublished Masters Thesis. U of M Missoula, MT
- WHITAKER, A.C. 1997. Initiation of coarse bed load transport in gravel bed streams. Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation. U of M, School of Forestry, Missoula, MT 148pp.
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Progress 01/01/96 to 12/30/96
Outputs
Monitoring has begun for a demonstration study on the use of prescribed fire to restore seral vegetation in riparian forests. Fire treatments are anticipated for Spring of 1997. A second study has gathered and inventoried baseline information for the riparian, aquatic, and riverine systems on the 6000 acre TRM Ranch. This information indicated that a major channel adjustment occurred following a 1964 flood and the presence of vehicle crossings seems to have influenced subsequent stream processes resulting in a braided channel. Restoring thsee stream channels could provide an economic and ecological way of manageng streams on the TRMR and in the northern Rocky Mountain Front. An AWRA paper which documents the recovery of a channel system following the 1964 floods is in press. A third study has completed pre-disturbance stream characterization for a highway construction project and is conducting post-disturbance characterizations of the affected streams which include
stage-discharge rating curves, sediment rating curves, channel cross-section analysis, streambed particle size analysis and some basic field and laboratory water chemistry analysis. The monitoring is scheduled to continue for the next two years during which time investigators will be looking for construction related changes in any of the pre-disturbance stream parameters.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Moeckel, J. and D.F. Potts. (In press) Stream channel adjustment following a major flood on a northern Rocky Mountain Front stream. In: Proceedings, AWRA 1996 Summer Symposium on watershed restoration, Syracuse, NY.
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Progress 01/01/95 to 12/30/95
Outputs
Monitoring and treatments have begun for a demonstration study on the use of prescribed fire to restore seral vegetation in riparian forests. The gathering and inventoring of baseline information for the riparian, aquatic, and riverine systems on the 6000 acre TRM Ranch is nearly complete. An AWRA paper which documents the recovery of a channel system following the 1964 floods is in press.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- NO PUBLICATIONS REPORTED THIS PERIOD.
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Progress 01/01/94 to 12/30/94
Outputs
Sites have been chosen and monitoring begun for a demonstration study on the useof prescribed fire to restore seral vegetation in riparian forests. Baseline information will be gathered and inventoried for the riparian, aquatic, and riverine systems on the 6000 acre TRM Ranch in an effort to better understand one of the remaining least-spoiled ecosystems in the continental United States. A literature review on existing meso-scale atmospheric models will be conducted in an effort to subjectively compare their potential application, scale, resolution, and state of validation.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- NO PUBLICATIONS REPORTED THIS PERIOD.
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