Data from: Interactions of wood accumulations, channel dynamics, and geomorphic heterogeneity within a river corridor

Natural rivers are inherently dynamic. Spatial and temporal variations in
water, sediment, and wood fluxes both cause and respond to an increase in
geomorphic heterogeneity within the river corridor. We analyze 16
two-kilometer river corridor segments of the Swan River in Montana, USA to
examine relationships between wood accumulations (wood accumulation
distribution density, count, and persistence), channel dynamism (total
sinuosity and average channel migration), and geomorphic heterogeneity
(density, aggregation, interspersion, and evenness of patches in the river
corridor). We hypothesize that i) more dynamic river segments correlate
with a greater presence, persistence, and distribution of wood
accumulations; ii) years with higher peak discharge correspond with
greater channel dynamism and wood accumulations; and iii) all river
corridor variables analyzed play a role in explaining river corridor
spatial heterogeneity. Our results suggest that decadal-scale channel
dynamism, as reflected in total sinuosity, corresponds to greater numbers
of wood accumulations per surface area and greater persistence of these
wood accumulations through time. Second, higher peak discharges correspond
to greater values of wood distribution density, but not to greater channel
dynamism. Third, persistent values of geomorphic heterogeneity, as
reflected in the heterogeneity metrics of aggregation, interspersion,
patch density, and evenness, are explained by potential predictor
variables analyzed here. Our results reflect the complex interactions of
water, sediment, and large wood in river corridors; the difficulties of
interpreting causal relationships among these variables through time; and
the importance of spatial and temporal analyses of past and present river
processes to understand future river conditions