Origin of large woody debris in streams in the western Cascades of Oregon and Washington and the Oregon Coast Range (Helen McDade thesis)

The objective of this study was to determine the source-distance patterns of coarse woody debris in selected streams flowing through natural conifer forests in the Cascade and Coast mountains of western Oregon and Washington. Several stand and landform conditions were sampled to estimate their effects on source-distance patterns of stream-side forests. We sampled old-growth and mature forests containing conifers and hardwoods to provide data on a range of tree heights. Hillslope steepness was considered in the sampling because we expected that if debris slid down steep slopes, source distances would be greater at sites with steeper side slopes and narrower floodplains. Sampled sites included a range of stream orders from first to third because floodplain width in this region generally increases with increasing stream order.