Current research indicates that the expansion of
western juniper can inhibit soil water retention, storage
and prolonged releases from watersheds. This phenomenon
is of great importance in eastern Oregon, as western
juniper is encroaching into sagebrush/grass communities
with a correlated reduction in herbaceous ground cover,
resulting in reduced infiltration rates and increased
soil loss. A paired watershed study for the purpose of
monitoring water quality/quantity as affected by western
juniper in the Camp Creek drainage, a tributary to the
Crooked River, was established in 1994.
Monitoring methods consisted of annual and
semiannual measurements of hillslope soil movement,
channel morphology, including total cross-sectional area,
scour and deposition, channel discharge, depth to
groundwater, and precipitation. Channel discharge was
established using a 3,0 H-flume with a pressure
transducer and stilling well and data logger. Changes in channel morphology were determined using 25 permanent,
channel cross-section plots per watershed. Hillslope
erosion processes were determined using 12 transects of 3
sediment stakes per watershed, located within gullies of
subwatersheds.
Data showed the two study areas to be well
correlated with regards to soil movement, both within the
main channels and in the subwatersheds (hillslopes).
Some of the geomorphometric properties are similar (not
statistically different) and differences in other
parameters can be explained. Channel discharge appears
to be significantly different in intensity, frequency,
and duration of flow. These differences in surface
discharge may be explained as further data collection of
subsurface flow analysis in conjunction with sampling of
springs located in each watershed are conducted. / Graduation date: 2005
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/31857 |
| Date | 22 September 2004 |
| Creators | Fisher, Michael, (Michael Patrick), 1966- |
| Contributors | Buckhouse, John C. |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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