Wood Load - Ephemeral Channels
Wood is recruited to ephemeral channels through natural mortality, debris-flow deposition, and microburst blow-down events.
Wood transport occurs during periods when there is flow in the channel, primarily during spring floods. These flows have the potential to form jams and may leave accumulations of wood on the floodplain.
The disturbance regime will affect wood availability.
Aspect will affect wood distribution, particularly at lower elevations. North-facing hillsides retain moisture better than south-facing slopes and as a result can support trees, providing a source for instream wood.
Beavers - Ephemeral Channels
Beavers require perennial streams and thus are not expected to influence wood distribution or abundance in ephemeral streams.