Persistence and impacts of fine-grained sediment on an anadromous fish, gravel-bed stream, northwestern California [abstract]
Madej MA, Meyer CB, Klein RD, Levitan FS. 1990. Persistence and impacts of fine-grained sediment on an anadromous fish, gravel-bed stream, northwestern California [abstract]. Eos, Transactions. 71(43):1322
This abstract briefly describes the problem in Prairie Creek, anadromous fish habitat at Redwood National Park, after a 1989 storm brought sediment from highway construction. Park staff monitored gravel permeability and other physical characteristics to assess effects of persistent fine sediment on salmonid reproduction. This stream is normally very productive, and tests with artificial redds showed 'good survival to hatching' in the first winter. The abstract notes, however, that the mild winter did not show effects of storm flows; the study concludes that the fine sediment is likely to continue affecting the gravel bed until high flows remove it. Fine sediment penetrated gravel beds to at least 30 cm and percentage of fines in natural redds increased to nearly one-fourth of the volume.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Madej, Mary; Meyer, Carolyn; Klein, Randy; Levitan, Fred
- Units
- REDW
- Keywords
- Anadromous Fish, Animal Studies, Aquatic Sciences, Construction, gravel beds, Permeability, Prairie Creek Redwood National Park CA, Redds, Salmonids (Salmonidae), Sediment (Fluvial), Storms, Survival Rate