Karst landscapes and associated resources: a resource assessment.

James F. Baichtal; Douglas N. Swanston

doi:10.2737/PNW-GTR-383

Treesearch

Karst landscapes and associated resources: a resource assessment.

Informally Refereed

Authors:

James F. Baichtal, Douglas N. Swanston

Year:

1996

Type:

General Technical Report

Station:

Pacific Northwest Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2737/PNW-GTR-383

Source:

Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-383. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 13 p. (Shaw, Charles G., III; Julin, Kent R., tech. coords.; Conservation and resource assessments for the Tongass land management plan revision)

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Abstract

The Tongass National Forest contains world-class karst features and the largest concentration of associated dissolved caves known in the state of Alaska. This paper describes the dominant karst formation processes operating in southeast Alaska, the controlling geologic and hydrologic characteristics, and the influence of karst landscapes on associated forest resources. Recent sediment deposits and waterline marks in underground karst drainage systems suggest that timber harvesting has increased sediment and debris transport and the flooding of certain underground passages.

Keywords

Karst, epikarst, caves, paleontology, Tongass, Alaska

Citation

Baichtal, James F.; Swanston, Douglas N. 1996. Karst landscapes and associated resources: a resource assessment. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-383. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 13 p. (Shaw, Charles G., III; Julin, Kent R., tech. coords.; Conservation and resource assessments for the Tongass land management plan revision)