17. Logging Effects on the Aquatic Ecosystem
343
species typical of the seasonal zone but temperatures consistent with the
perhumid zone (Veblen & Alaback, Chapter 9). The preharvest forest
cover included Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), red alder (Alnus rubra),
western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) , amabilis fir (Abies amabilis),
Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) , and western red cedar (Thuja plicata).
After harvesting, Sitka spruce and Douglas fir were planted, while western
hemlock and red alder regenerated naturally.
The basin has been glaciated and has steep slopes with elevations
ranging from sea level to 900m. Volcanic bedrock is overlain with Orthic
Ferro-Humic podzol soils which are shallow (about 0.7m mean depth) ,
highly permeable, coarse colluvial materials of gravely loam and loamy
sand texture with an organic surface layer. The lower 3 km of Carnation
Creek flows through a 50 to 200 m-wide floodplain.
The climate features mild, wet winters with frequent rainstorms, and
cool, dry summers. Mean mothly air temperatures vary from 3°C in
January to 15°C in August . Annual precipitation (mostly rain) has ranged
from 2100 to over 5000mm, and averages 3400mm . Snow occurs briefly
most years at higher elevations, but seldom at sea level. Streamflow is
flashy due to intense rainfall and rapid runoff, and discharges at the main
weir have ranged from 0.02 to 64m
3/s.
The principal species of fish are chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) ,
which spawn in the lower 500m of stream, and coho salmon (0. kisutch)
which utilize the first 3.1 km of stream accessible to the anadromous fish.
Carnation Creek Project
The original objectives of the Carnation Creek project (Hartman &
Scrivener, 1990) were (1) to develop a better understanding of how
undisturbed coastal rainforest-salmonid stream ecosystems work; (2) to
explain and quantify the impacts of timber production activities on stream
environments and their capacity to produce salmonid fishes; and (3)
to provide continuous input to the further development of integrated
resource management guidelines. An emphasis has been placed on understanding processes to maximize the transferability and application of
results, and evaluation of recovery of the stream system and fish production from logging impacts. New objectives for the project are being
developed
The initiating and lead agency until 1986 was the federal Department of
Fisheries and Oceans , which provided continuity of leadership and most
of the funding for field operations. Participating organizations included
both federal and provincial fisheries, forestry and water resource agencies,
universities, and MacMillan Bloedel Ltd., which carried out forestry
operations . Steering and working groups plus a project coordinator
provided direction , support, and coordination for research and monitoring
343
species typical of the seasonal zone but temperatures consistent with the
perhumid zone (Veblen & Alaback, Chapter 9). The preharvest forest
cover included Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), red alder (Alnus rubra),
western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) , amabilis fir (Abies amabilis),
Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) , and western red cedar (Thuja plicata).
After harvesting, Sitka spruce and Douglas fir were planted, while western
hemlock and red alder regenerated naturally.
The basin has been glaciated and has steep slopes with elevations
ranging from sea level to 900m. Volcanic bedrock is overlain with Orthic
Ferro-Humic podzol soils which are shallow (about 0.7m mean depth) ,
highly permeable, coarse colluvial materials of gravely loam and loamy
sand texture with an organic surface layer. The lower 3 km of Carnation
Creek flows through a 50 to 200 m-wide floodplain.
The climate features mild, wet winters with frequent rainstorms, and
cool, dry summers. Mean mothly air temperatures vary from 3°C in
January to 15°C in August . Annual precipitation (mostly rain) has ranged
from 2100 to over 5000mm, and averages 3400mm . Snow occurs briefly
most years at higher elevations, but seldom at sea level. Streamflow is
flashy due to intense rainfall and rapid runoff, and discharges at the main
weir have ranged from 0.02 to 64m
3/s.
The principal species of fish are chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) ,
which spawn in the lower 500m of stream, and coho salmon (0. kisutch)
which utilize the first 3.1 km of stream accessible to the anadromous fish.
Carnation Creek Project
The original objectives of the Carnation Creek project (Hartman &
Scrivener, 1990) were (1) to develop a better understanding of how
undisturbed coastal rainforest-salmonid stream ecosystems work; (2) to
explain and quantify the impacts of timber production activities on stream
environments and their capacity to produce salmonid fishes; and (3)
to provide continuous input to the further development of integrated
resource management guidelines. An emphasis has been placed on understanding processes to maximize the transferability and application of
results, and evaluation of recovery of the stream system and fish production from logging impacts. New objectives for the project are being
developed
The initiating and lead agency until 1986 was the federal Department of
Fisheries and Oceans , which provided continuity of leadership and most
of the funding for field operations. Participating organizations included
both federal and provincial fisheries, forestry and water resource agencies,
universities, and MacMillan Bloedel Ltd., which carried out forestry
operations . Steering and working groups plus a project coordinator
provided direction , support, and coordination for research and monitoring