Pacific Northwest Research Station

Title: Effects of log dumping and rafting on the marine environment of southeast Alaska.

Author: Pease, Bruce C.

Date: 1974

Source: Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-022. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station. 58 p

Station ID: GTR-PNW-022

Description: The extent of water-dependent log handling and storage facilities in southeast Alaska is summarized, along with the available literature on the environmental impact of these facilities. Field studies were conducted at 16 sites and correlated with laboratory studies of leaching rates and toxicity of the four major wood species harvested in southeast Alaska. Significant effects on water quality are believed to occur only under unique conditions and were observed at only 2 of the 16 study sites. Bark deposits with a high demand for oxygen were observed at all active and abandoned log dumping sites. The abundance of benthic infauna was noticeably reduced in bark-covered areas and intertidal raft storage areas. The laboratory studies demonstrated that oxygen-demanding organic compounds rapidly leach from logs in water, but precipitate in saltwater. The wood leachates are toxic to pink salmon fry in the laboratory but probably have little effect on fish in the natural environment. Further studies are needed to further quantify the environmental impact of water-oriented log-handling practices.

Keywords: Logging rafts, fish management, water quality

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Citation

Pease, Bruce C.  1974.  Effects of log dumping and rafting on the marine environment of southeast Alaska..   Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-022. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station. 58 p