DWCZ - CO - Estes Park - West Creek - Tree Rings, d18O, Basal Area Measurements - 2021 - Sade Cromratie Clemons (EP-WC-Tree-Rings-Cromratie-Clemons)

The data presented here are derived from tree cores collected near Estes Park, Colorado, at West Creek during the 2021 field season.

A total of 31 samples (21 standing trees and 10 pieces of large wood) were collected from Reaches 28 and 34 of West Creek. Samples were taken from both riparian areas and adjacent hillslopes. Standing trees were sampled using a 12 mm diameter increment borer, and large wood samples were collected using a hand saw.

Tree-ring growth measurements and stable oxygen isotope analyses were completed for each sample. Calculated variables include basal area increment (mm²), ring width index, and δ18O (‰) derived from tree rings.

This dataset supports the thesis:

Title: Using Dendrochronology and Isotope Methods to Identify the Watershed Origin of Wood in the River Corridor

Abstract:
Large wood (LW) recruitment influences the structure of river corridors and is an important component of wood budgets and river restoration. Determining the source location of LW from the watershed is challenging, and techniques used to identify source locations are limited. This project examines the source of LW deposited in valley bottoms in the Colorado Front Range, USA, following a flood in 2013.

The goal is to expand existing LW sourcing techniques by combining dendrochronology methods with stable isotope analyses to determine the watershed source of large wood (e.g., near-channel/valley bottom or upslope/hillslope) within a single catchment.