Colonization, succession and exotic species invasion on sediment deposits associated iwth dam removal, Olympic National Park
Brown RL, Helfield JM, Shafroth PB. 2010. Colonization, succession and exotic species invasion on sediment deposits associated iwth dam removal, Olympic National Park. Port Angeles, WA
The removal of two dams on the Elwha River in Olympic National Park (ONP), scheduled to begin in 2011, will be among the largest planned dam removals in the world. Their removal presents a range of challenges for the science of river restoration. One of the challenges will be to understand processes controlling revegetation and invasive species colonization on sediments that are exposed by dam removal. It is not clear how quickly the sediment within the drained impoundments will become revegetated, or how sediment deposition will affect downstream riparian plant communities. To determine the trajectory of vegetation succession within the drained impoundments, the extent to which reservoir sediments will facilitate the colonization of invasive species, and how sediments will affect downstream riparian vegetation, we undertook a three part study including (1) a study of vegetation colonization and seed bank patterns related to temporal and physical gradients on the deltas of Lake Mills, (2) a field and greenhouse experiment assessing potential colonization of exposed reservoir sediments via seed rain, and (3) a greenhouse experiment assessing the relative abilities of selected native and invasive floodplain plant species to grow on fine reservoir sediments.
- Type
- Unpublished Report
- Authors
- Brown, Rebecca; Helfield, James; Shafroth, Patrick
- Date of Issue
- 2010-02-25
- Units
- OLYM
- Keywords
- Dam Removal, Elwha River Watershed, Invasive Species, Revegetation, Riparian
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Invasive Species | Invasive/Exotic plants