Pacific Southwest

Title: Channel-dynamic control on the establishment of riparian trees after large floods in northwestern California

Author: Lisle, Thomas E.

Date: 1989

Source: In: D. L. Abell (ed.) Proceedings of the California Riparian Systems Conference: 22-24 September 1988, Davis, California. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report PSW-110. p. 9-13.

Description: Abstract - Large floods in northwestern California in the past two decades have mobilized extensive areas of valley floors, removed streamside trees, and widened channels. Channel cross sections were surveyed to illustrate an hypothesis on the linkage between sediment transport, colonization of channel margins by trees, and streambank recovery. Riparian trees, e.g., white alder (Alnus rhombifolia), colonize the water's edge at low flow to receive adequate moisture during the dry season. Such stands can endure annual high flows only after the flood-enhanced sediment load declines and the width of the annually mobile bed contracts to the low-flow width. Streambank formation along the low-flow margin can then proceed by deposition of fine sediment and organic debris.

Keywords: PSW4351, flood, channel cross sections, riparian ecosystems, channel aggradation, streambanks, streambeds, floodplains, high shear stress, channel morphology

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Citation

Lisle, Thomas E.  1989.  Channel-dynamic control on the establishment of riparian trees after large floods in northwestern California.   In: D. L. Abell (ed.) Proceedings of the California Riparian Systems Conference: 22-24 September 1988, Davis, California. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report PSW-110. p. 9-13..