Geomorphic controls on vegetation in Fern Canyon, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
Merrill BR. 1996. Geomorphic controls on vegetation in Fern Canyon, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
This report notes that impacts of human activity in the study area are significant, and changes may still affect processes at Fern Canyon and Home Creek which flows through it. Gold mining and associated resource use were important impacts. The author describes geomorphological features, mass wasting processes of 4 types, soils, Home Creek hydrology, and the association of the canyon's unusual vegetation with topography. Tree corings provide ages and a chronology. Use of photo points will allow future monitoring. Of concern is re-establishment of a late-Pleistocene Sitka spruce forest which is reducing the area occupied by nearby Lincoln Prairie. A concluding note describes effects of a heavy storm of December 8, 1996. Includes recommendations for management of Fern Canyon and Lincoln Prairie and suggestions for future research, many black-and-white photographs, storm hydrographs, and other illustrations. Appendices: topographic survey data, hydrology and fluvial geomorphology of Home Creek, vegetation of Fern Canyon, soils data. A fifth appendix is photo survey transparencies (separate volume). A map packet in the back contains 3 folded sheets: Fern Canyon geomorphology; Cross sections, photo points, and other points of reference; and Large organic debris within Fern Canyon.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Merrill, Brian
- Date of Issue
- 1996-12
- Units
- REDW
- Keywords
- Coastal Prairie, Dendrochronology, Fern Canyon Redwood National Park CA, Home Creek Redwood National Park CA, Human Impact, Hydrology, Invasion, Lincoln Prairie Redwood National Park CA, Mass Movements, Observations, Photo Points, Physical Sciences, Plant Studies, Presence (Biodiversity), Soils, Storms, Topography, Vegetation