Suspended sediment concentration in relation to forestry operations in Catamaran Brook and its tributaries (Canada)

• Published in: River Research and Applications
• Main Authors: Jolicoeur, Serge, Caissie, Daniel, Frenette, Isabelle, Hardie, Peter, Bouchard, Mireille
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2006
• Subjects: Atlantic salmon; Salmo salar
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/rra.970; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Frra.970; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/rra.970

Abstract The Catamaran Brook Habitat Research Project is a 15‐year investigation of river processes and potential impacts of forestry activities on Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) and its freshwater lotic habitats. Suspended sediments have been sampled in Catamaran Brook and its tributaries from 1990 to 1997. Data on total event precipitation and hourly peak discharge were related to suspended sediment concentration (SSC) under different catchment conditions (dry vs. wet) and treatment (absence or occurrence of timber harvesting). Although SSC generally showed a good correlation to total event precipitation and hourly peak discharge, there was no clear evidence that forestry operations were an important factor within the main Catamaran Brook during the timber harvesting year and the year that followed. Such was not the case for SSC in small tributaries draining directly from cut blocks during logging. In fact, the highest concentrations of suspended sediment were measured in small tributaries draining cut blocks during timber harvesting (with a maximum SSC of 404 mg L −1 in Tributary 1). Within the main Catamaran Brook, a dilution effect rapidly decreased these values downstream of affected tributaries. Processes related to the transfer of sediment to the streams are discussed. Potential improvements in river management and operational timing with respect to the timing of harvesting activities as it relates to precipitation, discharge, catchment conditions (dry vs. wet), freezing/thawing, and salmon migration are also discussed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.