Oregon Water Science Center
Multimedia
Multimedia products are an important way to distribute information to the public. The Oregon Water Science center continues to produce a variety of outreach materials including audio broadcasts, video podcasts, and online videos. Search below to see what we have been up to.
1. Overview of the Tualatin Urban Beaver Dam Study
Populations of North American beaver (Castor canadensis) have increased in recent years due to decreased trapping, habitat restoration, and recognition of their importance as a keystone species in stream ecosystems (Pollock and others, 2017). Previous studies have shown that beaver dams and associated ponds can change channel morphology, trap sediment (and
2. Beaver Dam Inventory and Beaver Dam Capacity Estimates
Beavers and their dams can substantially change the storage and movement of water through a stream reach. The magnitude of this change is, in part, a function of the number and type of dams plus stream characteristics. If beaver activity is to be considered as a flow-management aid, then understanding the locations where beavers currently are building dams and the
3. Hydraulic Effects of Beaver Dams
Beaver dams and ponds fundamentally alter how water moves through a stream reach. Semi-porous dams can impound water, leading to backwatering, floodplain inundation, and overall changes in wetted area, depth, and velocity.
For this part of the study, USGS:
- assessed hydraulic changes caused by beaver dams across a range of flows using a hydraulic model
USGS-PSU Grant Proposal Information
USGS - PSU Partnership (UPP) 2019 Request for Proposals.
The USGS-PSU Partnership (UPP) is a cooperative agreement between Portland State University and the U.S. Geological Survey’s Oregon Water Science Center (ORWSC). The purpose of this partnership is to further our understanding of water science by supporting joint research; facilitating the sharing of data,
4. Effects of Beaver Activity on Water Quality
Beaver dams and ponds alter the movement and storage of water as well as the water quality in a stream reach. To date, little work has been done to quantify the effects of beaver activity on water quality in urban streams.
In this part of the Tualatin beaver study, USGS assessed changes in water quality along beaver-affected reaches of Fanno Creek at Greenway Park
5. Effects of Beaver Dams on Sediment Transport
Beaver dams and associated ponding affect sediment transport and trapping by pushing water onto the floodplain and decreasing stream velocity, allowing for increased sediment deposition.
For this part of the Tualatin beaver study, USGS assessed changes in sediment dynamics along beaver-affected reaches of Fanno Creek at Greenway Park and Bronson Creek. Here, we
Post-Wildfire Playbook
New post-wildfire resource guide now available to help communities cope with flood and debris flow danger.
Water Temperature Data Collection in Willamette River
2016-2017 Water Temperature Data Collection in the Lower Willamette River, Oregon, in Support of Cold-Water Refuge Monitoring
Effects of beaver dams on urban streams in the Tualatin River Basin
Poster: WIthin Our Reach
White, J., Jones, K., Buccola, N., Costello, A., Poor, E., Rounds, S.A., and Smith, C., 2016, Effects of beaver dams on urban streams in the Tualatin River Basin.