Restoration and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems Active
By Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
November 13, 2017
Restoration of aquatic ecosystems involves a broad spectrum of active and passive efforts. Passive efforts rely on natural recovery of ecosystems, such as land use practices that protect riparian zones and sources of wood and sediment that drive the geomorphic and associated biological functions in streams. Active efforts involve more direct intervention, usually applied to specific locations, to treat more specific issues. These range from projects on the scale of dam removals on large rivers to refitting culverts on forest roads for aquatic organism passage.
We are currently involved in monitoring and evaluation of active restoration ranging from removal of large dams on the Elwha River in Olympic National Park to replacements of culverts on national forest roads in the Pacific Northwest. We are also actively engaged in a series of monitoring efforts to track physical and biological (threatened Oregon coast coho salmon and Pacific lamprey) responses to active restoration of large wood in streams on Bureau of Land Management lands in the Umpqua River basin. In 2011, we published a feasibility assessment with partners from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service that led to reintroduction of bull trout into the Clackamas River, Oregon, and we continue to assist in monitoring and evaluation of that effort. Our work on water temperature, water quality criteria, and contemporary forest harvest practices in the Trask River Watershed Study represents major interdisciplinary and interagency collaborations to evaluate the effectiveness of current approaches to passively restoring aquatic ecosystem function across broad extents in the Pacific Northwest.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 25
Large wood and in-stream habitat for juvenile coho salmon and larval lampreys in a Pacific Northwest stream
The influences of large wood on Pacific salmon are well-studied, but studies of nonsalmonid species such as lampreys are uncommon. To address this need, we evaluated the potential effects of large wood on larval lampreys (Pacific Lamprey, Entosphenus tridentatus; and potentially Western Brook Lamprey Lampetra richardsoni), as well as juvenile Coho Salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch, in a small coastal Or
Authors
Rosalinda Gonzalez, Jason B. Dunham, Scott W. Lightcap, Jeffery R. McEnroe
Factors influencing movement of two migratory fishes within the tailrace of a large neotropical dam and their implications for hydropower impacts
Fish attempting to move upstream through hydroelectric dams can be trapped and killed in turbines. Understanding fish movement patterns can provide useful insights for how to manage dam operations to minimize fish kill in turbines. We evaluated the movements of two migratory fish (Curimba-Prochilodus argenteus and Mandi-Pimelodus maculatus) using acoustic telemetry in the tailrace of Três Marias D
Authors
F. M. Suzuki, Jason B. Dunham, L. G. M. Silva, C. B. M. Alves, P.S. Pompeu
The reintroduction landscape: Finding success at the intersection of ecological, social, and institutional dimensions
No abstract available.
Authors
Jason B. Dunham, Rollie White, Chris S Allen, Bruce G. Marcot, Dan Shively
Aquatic biodiversity in forests: A weak link in ecosystem services resilience
The diversity of aquatic ecosystems is being quickly reduced on many continents, warranting a closer examination of the consequences for ecological integrity and ecosystem services. Here we describe intermediate and final ecosystem services derived from aquatic biodiversity in forests. We include a summary of the factors framing the assembly of aquatic biodiversity in forests in natural systems an
Authors
Brooke E. Penaluna, Deanna H. Olson, Rebecca L. Flitcroft, Matthew A. Weber, J. Ryan Bellmore, Steven M. Wondzell, Jason B. Dunham, Sherri L. Johnson, Gordon H. Reeves
Instream cover and shade mediate avian predation on trout in semi-natural streams
Piscivory by birds can be significant, particularly on fish in small streams and during seasonal low flow when available cover from predators can be limited. Yet, how varying amounts of cover may change the extent of predation mortality from avian predators on fish is not clear. We evaluated size-selective survival of coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii) in replicated semi-natura
Authors
Brooke E. Penaluna, Jason B. Dunham, David L. G. Noakes
Breeding site selection by coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in relation to large wood additions and factors that influence reproductive success
The fitness of female Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) with respect to breeding behavior can be partitioned into at least four fitness components: survival to reproduction, competition for breeding sites, success of egg incubation, and suitability of the local environment near breeding sites for early rearing of juveniles. We evaluated the relative influences of habitat features linked to these
Authors
Steven M. Clark, Jason B. Dunham, Jeffery R. McEnroe, Scott W. Lightcap
Region-wide ecological responses of arid Wyoming big sagebrush communities to fuel treatments
If arid sagebrush ecosystems lack resilience to disturbances or resistance to annual invasives, then alternative successional states dominated by annual invasives, especially cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.), are likely after fuel treatments. We identified six Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis Beetle & Young) locations (152–381 mm precipitation) that we believed had suff
Authors
David A. Pyke, Scott E. Shaff, Andrew I. Lindgren, Eugene W. Schupp, Paul S. Doescher, Jeanne C. Chambers, Jeffrey S. Burnham, Manuela M. Huso
Comparison of electrofishing techniques to detect larval lampreys in wadeable streams in the Pacific Northwest
We evaluated the probability of detecting larval lampreys using different methods of backpack electrofishing in wadeable streams in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Our primary objective was to compare capture of lampreys using electrofishing with standard settings for salmon and trout to settings specifically adapted for capture of lampreys. Field work consisted of removal sampling by means of backpac
Authors
Jason B. Dunham, Nathan D. Chelgren, Michael P. Heck, Steven M. Clark
Aquatic organism passage at road-stream crossings—synthesis and guidelines for effectiveness monitoring
Restoration and maintenance of passage for aquatic organisms at road-stream crossings represents a major management priority, involving an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars (for example, U.S. Government Accounting Office, 2001). In recent years, passage at hundreds of crossings has been restored, primarily by replacing barrier road culverts with bridges or stream simulation culverts de
Authors
Robert L. Hoffman, Jason B. Dunham, Bruce P. Hansen
Assessing the feasibility of native fish reintroductions: A framework applied to threatened bull trout
Translocations to recover native fishes have resulted in mixed success. One reason for the failure of these actions is inadequate assessments of their feasibility prior to implementation. Here, we provide a framework developed to assess the feasibility of one type of translocation—reintroduction. The framework was founded on two simple components of feasibility: the potential for recipient habitat
Authors
Jason B. Dunham, Kirsten Gallo, Dan Shively, Chris Allen, Brad Goehring
Analysis of trade-offs between threats of invasion by nonnative brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and intentional isolation for native westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi)
Native salmonid fishes often face simultaneous threats from habitat fragmentation and invasion by nonnative trout species. Unfortunately, management actions to address one may create or exacerbate the other. A consistent decision process would include a systematic analysis of when and where intentional use or removal of barriers is the most appropriate action. We developed a Bayesian belief networ
Authors
D.P. Peterson, B.E. Rieman, J. B. Dunham, K.D. Fausch, M.K. Young
Assessing the feasibility of native fish reintroductions: a framework and example applied to bull trout in the Clackamas River, Oregon
In a species conservation context, translocations can be an important tool, but they frequently fail to successfully establish new populations. We consider the case of reintroductions for bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus), a federally-listed threatened species with a widespread but declining distribution in western North America. Our specific objectives in this work were to: 1) develop a general
Authors
Jason B. Dunham, Kirsten Gallo
- Overview
Restoration of aquatic ecosystems involves a broad spectrum of active and passive efforts. Passive efforts rely on natural recovery of ecosystems, such as land use practices that protect riparian zones and sources of wood and sediment that drive the geomorphic and associated biological functions in streams. Active efforts involve more direct intervention, usually applied to specific locations, to treat more specific issues. These range from projects on the scale of dam removals on large rivers to refitting culverts on forest roads for aquatic organism passage.
We are currently involved in monitoring and evaluation of active restoration ranging from removal of large dams on the Elwha River in Olympic National Park to replacements of culverts on national forest roads in the Pacific Northwest. We are also actively engaged in a series of monitoring efforts to track physical and biological (threatened Oregon coast coho salmon and Pacific lamprey) responses to active restoration of large wood in streams on Bureau of Land Management lands in the Umpqua River basin. In 2011, we published a feasibility assessment with partners from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service that led to reintroduction of bull trout into the Clackamas River, Oregon, and we continue to assist in monitoring and evaluation of that effort. Our work on water temperature, water quality criteria, and contemporary forest harvest practices in the Trask River Watershed Study represents major interdisciplinary and interagency collaborations to evaluate the effectiveness of current approaches to passively restoring aquatic ecosystem function across broad extents in the Pacific Northwest.
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 25Large wood and in-stream habitat for juvenile coho salmon and larval lampreys in a Pacific Northwest stream
The influences of large wood on Pacific salmon are well-studied, but studies of nonsalmonid species such as lampreys are uncommon. To address this need, we evaluated the potential effects of large wood on larval lampreys (Pacific Lamprey, Entosphenus tridentatus; and potentially Western Brook Lamprey Lampetra richardsoni), as well as juvenile Coho Salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch, in a small coastal OrAuthorsRosalinda Gonzalez, Jason B. Dunham, Scott W. Lightcap, Jeffery R. McEnroeFactors influencing movement of two migratory fishes within the tailrace of a large neotropical dam and their implications for hydropower impacts
Fish attempting to move upstream through hydroelectric dams can be trapped and killed in turbines. Understanding fish movement patterns can provide useful insights for how to manage dam operations to minimize fish kill in turbines. We evaluated the movements of two migratory fish (Curimba-Prochilodus argenteus and Mandi-Pimelodus maculatus) using acoustic telemetry in the tailrace of Três Marias DAuthorsF. M. Suzuki, Jason B. Dunham, L. G. M. Silva, C. B. M. Alves, P.S. PompeuThe reintroduction landscape: Finding success at the intersection of ecological, social, and institutional dimensions
No abstract available.AuthorsJason B. Dunham, Rollie White, Chris S Allen, Bruce G. Marcot, Dan ShivelyAquatic biodiversity in forests: A weak link in ecosystem services resilience
The diversity of aquatic ecosystems is being quickly reduced on many continents, warranting a closer examination of the consequences for ecological integrity and ecosystem services. Here we describe intermediate and final ecosystem services derived from aquatic biodiversity in forests. We include a summary of the factors framing the assembly of aquatic biodiversity in forests in natural systems anAuthorsBrooke E. Penaluna, Deanna H. Olson, Rebecca L. Flitcroft, Matthew A. Weber, J. Ryan Bellmore, Steven M. Wondzell, Jason B. Dunham, Sherri L. Johnson, Gordon H. ReevesInstream cover and shade mediate avian predation on trout in semi-natural streams
Piscivory by birds can be significant, particularly on fish in small streams and during seasonal low flow when available cover from predators can be limited. Yet, how varying amounts of cover may change the extent of predation mortality from avian predators on fish is not clear. We evaluated size-selective survival of coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii) in replicated semi-naturaAuthorsBrooke E. Penaluna, Jason B. Dunham, David L. G. NoakesBreeding site selection by coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in relation to large wood additions and factors that influence reproductive success
The fitness of female Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) with respect to breeding behavior can be partitioned into at least four fitness components: survival to reproduction, competition for breeding sites, success of egg incubation, and suitability of the local environment near breeding sites for early rearing of juveniles. We evaluated the relative influences of habitat features linked to theseAuthorsSteven M. Clark, Jason B. Dunham, Jeffery R. McEnroe, Scott W. LightcapRegion-wide ecological responses of arid Wyoming big sagebrush communities to fuel treatments
If arid sagebrush ecosystems lack resilience to disturbances or resistance to annual invasives, then alternative successional states dominated by annual invasives, especially cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.), are likely after fuel treatments. We identified six Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis Beetle & Young) locations (152–381 mm precipitation) that we believed had suffAuthorsDavid A. Pyke, Scott E. Shaff, Andrew I. Lindgren, Eugene W. Schupp, Paul S. Doescher, Jeanne C. Chambers, Jeffrey S. Burnham, Manuela M. HusoComparison of electrofishing techniques to detect larval lampreys in wadeable streams in the Pacific Northwest
We evaluated the probability of detecting larval lampreys using different methods of backpack electrofishing in wadeable streams in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Our primary objective was to compare capture of lampreys using electrofishing with standard settings for salmon and trout to settings specifically adapted for capture of lampreys. Field work consisted of removal sampling by means of backpacAuthorsJason B. Dunham, Nathan D. Chelgren, Michael P. Heck, Steven M. ClarkAquatic organism passage at road-stream crossings—synthesis and guidelines for effectiveness monitoring
Restoration and maintenance of passage for aquatic organisms at road-stream crossings represents a major management priority, involving an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars (for example, U.S. Government Accounting Office, 2001). In recent years, passage at hundreds of crossings has been restored, primarily by replacing barrier road culverts with bridges or stream simulation culverts deAuthorsRobert L. Hoffman, Jason B. Dunham, Bruce P. HansenAssessing the feasibility of native fish reintroductions: A framework applied to threatened bull trout
Translocations to recover native fishes have resulted in mixed success. One reason for the failure of these actions is inadequate assessments of their feasibility prior to implementation. Here, we provide a framework developed to assess the feasibility of one type of translocation—reintroduction. The framework was founded on two simple components of feasibility: the potential for recipient habitatAuthorsJason B. Dunham, Kirsten Gallo, Dan Shively, Chris Allen, Brad GoehringAnalysis of trade-offs between threats of invasion by nonnative brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and intentional isolation for native westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi)
Native salmonid fishes often face simultaneous threats from habitat fragmentation and invasion by nonnative trout species. Unfortunately, management actions to address one may create or exacerbate the other. A consistent decision process would include a systematic analysis of when and where intentional use or removal of barriers is the most appropriate action. We developed a Bayesian belief networAuthorsD.P. Peterson, B.E. Rieman, J. B. Dunham, K.D. Fausch, M.K. YoungAssessing the feasibility of native fish reintroductions: a framework and example applied to bull trout in the Clackamas River, Oregon
In a species conservation context, translocations can be an important tool, but they frequently fail to successfully establish new populations. We consider the case of reintroductions for bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus), a federally-listed threatened species with a widespread but declining distribution in western North America. Our specific objectives in this work were to: 1) develop a generalAuthorsJason B. Dunham, Kirsten Gallo