FOREST PROGRAM
Strategic Priorities

Annual Review of ONRC Research

Conference Reports

ONRC Research
Whitepapers
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004

External Research
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004

External Research 1995

Title:
Geologic Mapping and Landslide Inventory of the West-central Portion of the Olympic Peninsula,

Principal investigator(s); affiliation(s):
Wendy Gerstel; Washington Department of Natural Resources

Award:
$38,400

Project description:
This project will compile an inventory of deep-seated landslides, accompanied by geologic maps, in the following drainages and their associated tributaries on the west slope of the Olympic Peninsula: Queets, Hoh, Bogachiel, Calawah, and lower Soleduc (the last three combining to form the Quillayute). Differentiating quaternary deposits is particularly critical to this project as glacial deposits commonly control landslide type and failure mechanisms. Existing map coverage of deep-seated landslides is spotty and at present there is no comprehensive inventory; however, the need for such an inventory is pointed out by Dr. Susan Shaw in her recommendations for a riparian management plan for the Olympic Experimental State Forest. Furthermore, geologic maps detailing the glacial stratigraphy provide a basis for identifying sediment sources and stream characteristics and support continuing studies by David Montgomery and others characterizing stream gradients and sediment supply.

Project deliverable(s):
Gerstel, Wendy. 1999. “Landslide inventory of the West Central Olympic Peninsula.” Washington Division of Geology and Earth Resources. Open File Report 99-2. Olympia, WA.

Gerstel, Wendy. 2000. “Geologic Map of the Forks 1:100,000 Quadrangle, Washington.” Washington Division of Geology and Earth Sciences. Open File Report 2000-4. Olympia, WA.

Title:
Land Use Impacts on Salmon Abundance

Principal investigator(s); affiliation(s):
Dr. William Jaeger; Williams College
Dr. David Fluharty; University of Washington

Award:
$50,000

Project description:
The impact of changes in land cover and land use on spawning habitat and anadromous fish abundance is one of the central issues and sources of conflict both among different commodity production industries (timber, agriculture, salmon), and between commodity production and the maintenance of ecological values on the Olympic Peninsula. Despite the importance of understanding the causal relationship between land use and salmon abundance, there is currently no broadly applicable empirical estimate of the effect of changes in land use on salmon abundance. The goal of this study is to provide an empirical basis of impact of changes in land use on anadromous fish abundance using cross-sectional statistical analysis of salmon abundance, riverine characteristics, riparian border characteristics, and watershed characteristics. This analysis would provide communities and local decision makers a stronger basis on which to evaluate current and future (land use) alternatives, and to assess the benefits and costs of alternative courses of action.

Project deliverable(s):
Fluharty, David L. and William K. Jaeger. 1999. “Land use impacts on salmon abundance.” Final report to ONRC.

Title:
Management of Peak Summer Water Temperatures in Type 4 and 5 Streams Within Recently Harvested Forest Areas

Principal investigator(s); affiliations(s):
Dr. Susan Bolton; University of Washington

Award:
$34,000

Project description:
High summer temperature has been identified as one of the major factors causing decline of salmonid fisheries throughout the temperate climates. There is an interest in looking upstream above the currently protected Type 3 waters to determine what can be done to prevent warm water from entering fish bearing stream areas. Project objectives are:
(1) Map stream origins within several recently harvested study areas and paired unharvested areas. Classify stream origins as from springs, seeps, and channel interception of subsurface flow.
(2) Record the location, surface area, seasonal flow and temperature of inflows, which start within and above stream channels. Record shade cover, soil temperature, air temperature and solar radiation energy, which affect stream temperature.
(3) Determine temperature and thermal energy gains of water entering the stream channel and along the length of exposed channels through measurement and by energy balance calculations.
(4) Devise environmentally benign temporary shade structures for areas of high thermal energy gain.
(5) Test the effectiveness of constructed temporary shade to reduce peak summer temperatures.

Project deliverable(s):
Black, Jenelle S.D.. 2001. “Summer temperatures in small stream sources on managed Olympic Peninsula timberlands.” Master’s Thesis. University of Washington.

Title:
Using Oysters to Monitor the Condition of Willapa Bay: Developing a Standard Tool for Estuaries

Principal investigator(s); affiliations(s):
Dr. Brett R. Dumbauld; Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Dr. Kenneth K. Chew; University of Washington

Award:
$35,000

Project description:
Shellfish aquaculture on the Pacific coast is a growing component of the resource-based coastal economy. Washington State is currently one of the biggest producers of oysters in the USA. More than half of the Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas, grown in Washington State come from Willapa Bay. The sustainability and present status of this industry, however, is closely tied to water quality and the productivity of this bay. Researchers and growers utilize a measure of the “fatness” of bivalves known as Condition Index (CI) to measure productivity. The primary goals of this project are to:
(1) Evaluate factors responsible for variation in CI on both a local scale (turbidity caused by burrowing shrimp, competition with other oysters, tide height) and along an estuarine gradient (salinity, nutrients, phytoplankton production and species present, sediment load).
(2) Evaluate the sampling procedure currently used for measuring the condition of Willapa Bay oysters, compare it with others in use, and propose changes if necessary, realizing the value of consistency and the existing long-term historical record, but also cost and statistical validity.
(3) use the results to develop a standard protocol for collecting and analyzing similar data from other resources.

Project deliverable(s):
Schumacker, Ervin J.. 1999. “Oyster condition index studies in Willapa Bay, Washington: Methodologies and relationships with environmental variables.” Master’s Thesis, University of Washington.

Title:
Response of Coarse Woody Debris Invertebrates in Managed 50-70 year-old Stands on the Olympic Peninsula, Thinned to Create Late Successional Habitat

Principal investigator(s); affiliations(s):
Dr. Robert Edmonds; University of Washington
Dr. Jim Marra; University of Washington

Award:
$42,600

Project description:
An increasing body of literature has identified coarse woody debris (CWD) as a critical component of forest ecosystems. Although forest managers are being directed to maintain or restore CWD through management activities, little is known about what characteristics of CWD are most essential to ecosystem function and biodiversity and in what configuration. How CWD influences tree productivity is also not well understood. The specific objectives of this study are to:
(1) Determine the species of invertebrates in CWD of different tree species, diameters, and decay classes.
(2) Determine fungal macro species and types of decay (brown rot and white rot) occurring on CWD of different tree species, diameters and decay classes in the study stands before and after treatment.
The results of Berlese arthropod extraction will be used to compare the effects of various treatments of thinning, clumped versus dispersed slash, understory plantings, and CWD removal. The results of this study can be used to identify characteristics of CWD most essential to the maintenance of CWD and forest floor inhabiting invertebrates. Further studies sample early USDA Forest Service Habitat Development Study installations of variable density thinning in the Soleduck ranger district, comparing CWD invertebrates in thinned versus unthinned plots. In addition, the project compares CWD invertebrates in clumped versus dispersed CWD treatments at a site in the Hood Canal ranger district. Results of this study will be used to evaluate alternative methods of harvesting that attempt to combine timer harvesting with the creation of late successional wildlife habitat.

Project deliverable(s):
Edmonds, R.L. and J. L. Marra. 1999. Decomposition of woody material: Nutrient dynamics, invertebrate/fungi relationships and management of Northwest Forests, p 68-79 In R. T. Meurisse, W G. Ypsilantis, and C. Seybold (eds.). .Proceedings Pacific Northwest Forest and Rangeland Symposium. USDA Forest, Pacific Northwest Research Station, General Technical Report, PNW -GTR-461, Portland, OR.

Marra, J. L. and R. L. Edmonds. Creation of invertebrate habitat in coarse woody debris in managed 60-70 year-old western hemlock/Douglas-fir stands on the Olympic Peninsula, Washington. Can. J. For. Res. (in preparation)