DEVELOPMENT OF EFFECTIVENESS MONITORING PROTOCOLS FOR AQUATIC HABITAT CONDITIONS ON THE TONGASS NATIONAL FOREST: A TLMP INFORMATION NEED Richard D. Woodsmith Mason D. Bryant Richard T. Edwards

STUDY PLAN DEVELOPMENT OF EFFECTIVENESS MONITORING PROTOCOLS FOR AQUATIC HABITAT CONDITIONS ON THE TONGASS NATIONAL FOREST: A TLMP INFORMATION NEED R.D. WOODSMITH AND M.D. BRYANT U.S.D.A., Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, 2770 Sherwood Lane, Suite 2A, Juneau, AK , U.S.A. COOPERATORS: PNW RESEARCH: Richard Woodsmith, Mason Bryant KETCHIKAN AREA: Ted Geier, Ron Medel KETCHIKAN RANGER DISTRICT

SAMPLE REACH LOCATIONS

OBJECTIVE Develop, test, and refine application and analysis protocols for effectiveness monitoring of aquatic habitat in southeast Alaska  Select variables  Sensitive to disturbance  Objective and precise  Efficient  Field procedures  Channel condition  Salmonid densities  Analysis procedures  Channel condition change  Salmonid density response  Ecological responses  Future research

APPLICATIONS OF EFFECTIVENESS MONITORING PROTOCOLS ISSUE: Managers of public lands require an efficient, repeatable, and defensible assessment of aquatic habitat condition for a number of applications:  Effectiveness monitoring -- determine the effectiveness of management standards and guidelines  Restoration needs  Restoration design and evaluation  Habitat risk assessment

We take a cumulative effects approach by sampling floodplain-type, gravel-bed streams, generally low in the drainage network.

We take advantage of southeastern Alaska’s abundance of pristine channel habitat, as a standard for comparison.

Variation is large and effectiveness monitoring variables need to be sensitive, precise, and efficient.

Bauer, S.B. and Ralph, S.C EPA-910-R

You call this a pool??

VARIABLE SELECTION Sensitive, Objective, and Precise:  Pool Spatial Density (Pools*W bed /L)  Pool Depth (d r / d bf )  Bed Surface Grain Size (D 50 /D 50p )  Width:Depth Ratio (W bed /d bf )  Relative Submergence (d bf /D 50 )

PROTOCOL OUTLINE  Reach location randomly selected in stream of interest  Elevational surveys with level and rod Longitudinal profile (20 channel widths) Cross sections (every 5 channel widths)  Pool inventory and residual depth measurements  Grain size distribution (at every cross section)  Site characterization  LWD inventory  Photos and sketch of reach  Riparian stand density  Drainage area  Watershed condition (for interpretation)  % Drainage area harvested  Road density  Other land use  Geology, soils, climate, etc.

TEMPORAL VARIABILITY

MONITORING VARIABLE DISTRIBUTION Are there distinct channel conditions for different land use intensities?

ANOVA RESULTS Bonferroni multiple contrasts of channel condition variables among P, M, and H; α = 0.10; power of the test is given in parentheses.

Power as a Function of Sample Size One-way ANOVA for Log (Pools*W/L) Power Number of Cases Per Cell f= 0.377; Levels= 3 (H, M, P); Alpha=.10; Tails=

TREND ANALYSIS

POWER OF TREND ANALYSIS

DESIGN  Collaboration Land managers Resource specialists Researchers Statisticians  Definition of the specific question -- what are the objectives / contrasts Effectiveness of current guidelines Cumulative effects Restoration priorities EXECUTION  Well trained personnel  Carefully designed protocols Pool density Pool depth Width:depth ratio Substrate grain size distribution Relative submergence Other variables as appropriate CONCLUDING REMARKS EFFECTIVENESS MONITORING

ANALYSIS  Contrast regional land use categories  Analyze trends  Feedback to execution (power analyses) INTERPRETATION 1.Watershed and landscape conditions  Watershed size  Geology and soils  Climate and vegetation 2.Geomorphic processes  Flood frequency regime  Mass movement 3.Disturbance history (background and land use)  Glaciation  Climatic extremes  Intense storms  Road building  Timber harvesting CONCLUSIONS  Relative magnitude of effects of broad categories of land use ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT CONCLUDING REMARKS

OBJECTIVE  Determine the relationship between salmonid densities (number of fish/m2) and channel condition ANALYSIS OF SALMONID POPULATIONS

METHODS  20 of 66 reaches sampled  Randomly selected habitat units used as "fish sampling units" (FSU)  FSU's saturated with traps for complete sampling  Population estimates through "removal method" (White et al., 1982; Bryant, 2000)

ANALYSIS  Salmonid densities as a function of channel condition were examined through a series of independent linear regressions for each species and variable

RESULTS Salmonid Relationships are complex and variable  Habitat use Full vs. partial recruitment Dolly Varden, steelhead, and cutthroat trout found at low densities Availability of refuge habitat (only main stems were sampled)  Limiting factors may differ seasonally Summer drought Fall floods Winter temperatures  External factors Fishing pressure Predation Ocean productivity

SALMONID DENSITY AS A FUNCTION OF CHANNEL CONDITION

SALMONID DENSITY AS A FUNCTION OF LARGE WOODY DEBRIS

COHO AS AN INDICATOR SPECIES  Fry and parr utilize small streams broadly distributed throughout the channel network  Associated with specific seasonal habitats  Important part of life cycle spent in freshwater

FUTURE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES  Ecosystem approach Understanding stream structures and processes that function to effectively support fish and other biota  Availability of food resources  Reach nutrient stocks oNutrient cycling and retention  Allochthonous inputs  Primary production oPhysical and chemical controls  Secondary production oControlling variables oMagnitude and distribution  Ecosystem metabolism

FUTURE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES  Wetland-stream interactions Carbon and nutrient inputs Effects on stream processes  What are the effects of channel structure on ecological processes controlling Food abundance Food quality Productivity Biological diversity

 Role of surface/subsurface interactions Productivity Stability Diversity  Controls Slope Substrate texture Channel planform and topography LWD, boulders, obstructions Sediment supply FUTURE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

 RECOVERY FROM DISTURBANCE How do background disturbances and management decisions influence these key processes? FUTURE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES