Effects of forest roads on stream sediment

John King; Michael Gonsior

Treesearch

Effects of forest roads on stream sediment

Informally Refereed

Authors:

John King, Michael Gonsior

Year:

1980

Type:

Paper

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

Paper distributed at meeting. Symposium on Watershed Management; 1980, July 21-23; Boise, ID. New York, NY: American Society of Civil Engineering, Southern Idaho Section. 19 p.

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Abstract

This paper discusses some on-site erosion and stream sedimentation consequences of forest road construction in small watersheds in northern Idaho. Pioneering and culvert installation increase sediment fluxes in the streams, just below the road, 100 to 10,000 times the normal daily flux for short periods of time. Subsequent to construction, rain and snowmelt events acting on the road prism features appreciably increase sediment fluxes in the streams just below the roads. Sediment measurements at the mouths of these small watersheds indicate that very little of the road derived sediment is being transported out of the watersheds. Thus, sediment is being stored in the channel systems. Channel transect data supports the conclusion that the channels are aggrading as a result of storage of road derived sediment.

Keywords

erosion, stream sedimentation, watersheds

Citation

King, John; Gonsior, Michael. 1980. Effects of forest roads on stream sediment. Paper distributed at meeting. Symposium on Watershed Management; 1980, July 21-23; Boise, ID. New York, NY: American Society of Civil Engineering, Southern Idaho Section. 19 p.