Benthic invertebrates and sediment characteristics in freshwater, beach habitats of the lower Columbia River, 1994-95

In 1994 and 1995, we studied benthic invertebrates and sediment characteristics in freshwater, beach habitats (i.e., intertidal beaches and adjacent shallow subtidal habitats) at 10 areas of the lower Columbia River between River Kilometers 53 and 122. All 10 areas had been used in the past for the disposal of dredged material pumped from the bottom of the navigational channel. The disposal of dredged material in a narrow band (about 30 m wide) onto beaches in the lower Columbia River is commonly referred to as beach nourishment.The main goals of the study were to describe the benthic invertebrate communities at the beach nourishment areas and examine the relationship between sediment median grain size and standing crops of the amphipods Corophium spp., which are seasonally important in the diet of juvenile salmonids. 1996 NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) NWFSC (Northwest Fisheries Science Center) Library Public Domain 1861