HR: 09:45h
AN: NB31C-06    [Abstracts]
TI: Structural Responses of a Stream Community to a Channel Relocation Using a Natural Channel Design Approach
AU: * Jack, J
EM: jeff.jack@louisville.edu
AF: Department of Biology Stream Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292 United States
AU: Word, D
EM: david.word@louisville.edu
AF: Department of Biology Stream Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292 United States
AU: Daniel, W
EM: savagefish@hotmail.com
AF: Department of Biology Stream Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292 United States
AU: Pritchard, S
EM: snptrichard@yahoo.com
AF: Department of Biology Stream Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292 United States
AU: Parola, A
EM: acparola@louisville.edu
AF: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Stream Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292 United States
AU: Vesely, B
EM: william.vesely@louisville.edu
AF: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Stream Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292 United States
AB: Streams have been heavily impacted by historical and contemporary management practices. Restorations are seen as a way to enhance stream ecosystem integrity, but there are few restoration sites where pre- and post-restoration data are available to assess "success." In 2003, a channelized reach of Wilson Creek (Kentucky, USA) was relocated using a natural channel design approach. We compared the structural and functional responses of the stream pre- and post restoration/relocation at sites within Wilson and two reference streams. Despite the construction disturbance, water chemistry parameters such as nitrate and turbidity were nearly identical at sampling stations above and below the relocation for 2003-2004. Macroinvertebrate colonization of the relocation sites was rapid, with communities dominated by Cheumatopsyche, Perlesta and Baetis. Assessments of CPOM transport indicated that the new stream channel is more retentive of leaf and woody debris material than the pre-restoration Wilson sites or unrestored reference stream sites. The restoration of suitable habitat and the presence of "source populations" for colonization may compensate for even large-scale (but short-term) construction disturbance. More research is needed to assess the balance between the disturbance impacts of restoration installation and the long term benefits of stream ecological improvement.
DE: 9810 New fields (not classifiable under other headings)
SC: North American Benthological Society [NB]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly