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Effects on bedload transport of experimental removal of woody debris from a forest gravel‐bed stream
Author(s) -
Smith R. D.,
Sidle R. C.,
Porter P. E.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
earth surface processes and landforms
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.294
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1096-9837
pISSN - 0197-9337
DOI - 10.1002/esp.3290180507
Subject(s) - debris , bed load , large woody debris , geology , sediment transport , hydrology (agriculture) , erosion , stream power , sediment , streams , storm , stream bed , hyperconcentrated flow , coarse woody debris , geomorphology , geotechnical engineering , ecology , riparian zone , oceanography , computer network , habitat , computer science , biology
Experimental removal of woody debris from a small, gravel‐bed stream in a forested area resulted in a four‐fold increase in bedload transport at bankfull discharge. This was caused by increased transportability of sediment previously stored upslope of debris buttresses or in low‐energy hydraulic environments related to debris. Bank erosion delivered additional sediment to the channel, and transport energy was increased by an inferred increase in the component of total boundary shear stress affecting grains on the bed. Increased transport following debris removal in May 1987 continued throughout the entire autumn storm season through late November 1987, indicating persistent adjustment of the stream bed and banks despite marked response to earlier flows as large as bankfull. Stream bed adjustments included development of a semi‐regular sequence of alternate bars and pools, many of which were spaced independently of former pool locations.