*NEW*
Washington Forest Practices Adaptive Management Annual Science Conference
FEBRUARY 20th, 2008, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This one day conference will highlight the results of Cooperative Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Committee (CMER) studies of riparian areas, amphibians, roads and unstable slopes. Many of these research and monitoring projects focus on headwater streams. More information on this conference can be found on our meetings page.
Recent OHRC news: The April 2007 special issue of Forest Science is dedicated to the science and management of headwater streams. Most of the papers in this special issue were presented at the November 2005 Oregon Headwaters Research Cooperative Conference held in Corvallis, Oregon. View the table of contents by clicking here
***In August of 2006 OHRC funded two new projects. One of the projects has two parts: 1) to examine cumulative and long-term effects of forest management on headwater streams and 2) develop a classification system for headwaters streams. The second project is a cataloging project to ensure that information about field sites used in headwater stream research is captured in a database for others to use. For more information please see the RESEARCH page
***In November 2005 the OHRC sponsored a meeting on the science and management of headwaters streams. For more information on meeting material, see the Meetings page.
The scientific community has long recognized the need for research on very small headwater streams, as evident in the words of Luna Leopold (1956). It has been estimated that small streams comprise approximately 95% of total stream channels and 75% of stream length. These streams are fundamentally different than larger streams, minimizing the applicability of research findings from larger streams. While the effects of forest management on small streams have not received much research attention, it is currently proposed that forest managers should increase protection of these small streams. Future research, focused on small headwater streams, is a priority given the extent of the landscape potentially affected by increased protection of these streams.
The Oregon Headwaters Research Cooperative (OHRC) formed in support of this research need. The purpose of the OHRC is to investigate local and downstream effects of forest management on biota and habitat characteristics of headwater stream systems. The OHRC is supported by a small group of agencies, organizations and companies interested in initiating new science on headwater streams. The goals of the research cooperative are: (1) to gain scientific understanding of the physical and biological processes of headwater stream systems; and (2) to test the local and downstream response of headwater streams to a range of forest management prescriptions.
Headwater streams vary greatly in terms of how they function, both locally and at a basin scale. This variability manifests itself in a range of channel morphology, hydrologic regimes, riparian, and biologic characteristics. This variability challenges our ability to predict process and management effects at a large scale. Research needs to understand the implications of process and management within the context of this variability. Such implications are married to the scale of analyses both in time and space.
Many forest management decisions and policies vary depending on the characteristics of a stream. These characteristics are often used to form stream “classes” or “classification systems.” Current stream classification systems do not adequately address the uniqueness and variability of headwater streams. Research that describes the variation in headwater stream characteristics, with linkages to physical and biological processes, could be used to develop a headwater stream classification system. Such a classification system should be operationally applicable and could help predict the location and extent of headwater stream miles.
Future research should focus on current forest practices. Retrospective studies on the effects of management are of limited utility, given the evolution of forest practices over the past 20 years. There is a need for both modeling and empirical studies. Such efforts should be collaborated to improve our understanding of headwater stream processes and mechanics of management effects. Integrated research involving disciplines from both the physical and biological sciences are preferred.
The priority of the OHRC is to support research that speaks to current forest management issues. Clearly, there are a multitude of issues surrounding headwater streams. Forestland managers and researchers alike are just beginning to articulate the range of issues spanning economic, social and environmental concerns. A limited number of studies representing a small portion of the variability form the basis of current management strategies and policies. In addition, researchers and managers are limited by the utility of current classification, evaluation and analytical tools within the context of headwater streams. Ideally, today’s research will provide the necessary information to address the range of issues and guide future management and policy decisions.
This web site is designed to provide updates on OHRC research projects, information about upcoming meetings and workshops that address headwater streams, a description of the OHRC funding strategy and steering committee, contact information, and links to other headwater stream-related web sites.
Last Update: October 1, 2007