Wood Load - Glaciated Confined Channels
(Information compiled by Dan Cadol)
Confined channel segments tend to have low wood loads because the steep channel gradients associated with confinement lead to high values of stream power that effectively remove wood from the reach via transport or breakage. The wood that is retained generally exists in jams and in accumulations in low velocity zones, such as on the channel margins and sites of flow divergence. Wood is recruited through natural mortality, mass movement, and avalanche deposits. The steep valley sides may increase wood delivery to the channel by increasing the ease of transport of wood from the hillslope to the channel (Nowakowski and Wohl, in press).
Englemann spruce and sub-alpine fir are the most common trees in the forests above 2300 m elevation, and are expected to dominate the wood load. Click here to go to the riparian vegetation page.
Beavers - Glaciated Confined Channels
Beaver activity is uncommon in confined channel reaches. The steep channel and high flow energy are not well suited for dam building. Also, the narrow riparian zone may not support enough willow to provide an adequate food supply for beaver.