Dynamic Processes of Large Wood and Their Effects on Fluvial Export at the Watershed Scale

The presence of large wood (LW) has a pronounced impact on the geomorphic and ecological character of river corridors, yet relatively little is known about the patterns and processes at the watershed scale. To understand these patterns we monitored the volumetric input of LW into 131 reservoirs and a suite of watershed characteristics. Of all geomorphic and hydrologic variables tested, watershed area was most important in explaining LW export. LW export per unit watershed area was relatively high in small watersheds, peaked in intermediate-sized watersheds and decreased in large watersheds. To explain these variations, we surveyed the amount of LW with respect to channel morphology in 78 segments (26 segments in each size class) in the Nukabira River, northern Japan, and examined the differences in LW dynamics, including its recruitment, transport, storage, and fragmentation and decay along the spectrum of watershed sizes. We found in small watersheds a larger proportion of LW produced by forest dynamics and hillslope processes was retained due to narrower valley floors and lower stream power. The retained LW pieces may eventually be exported during debris flows. In intermediate-sized watersheds the volume of LW pieces derived from hillslopes decreased substantially with reductions of proportion of channel length bordered by hillslope margins, which potentially deliver large quantities of LW. Because these channels have lower wood piece length to channel width ratios and higher stream power, LW pieces can be transported downstream. During transport, LW pieces are further fragmented and can be more easily transported; and therefore, the fluvial export of LW is maximized in intermediate-sized watersheds. Rivers in large watersheds, where the recruitment of LW is limited by the decreasing hillslope margins, cannot transport LW pieces because of their low stream power and thus LW pieces accumulate at various storage sites. Although these stored LW pieces can be re-floated and transported by subsequent flood events, they may be also combed by obstacles such as log jams and standing trees on floodplains and in secondary channels. Redistribution on these surfaces can be up to decades with eventual decay into fine organic particles resulting in the reduction of fluvial export of LW in larger watersheds. Our findings provide important information for a role of LW pieces in regulating the dynamic character of geomorphic processes and aquatic habitats, and the transfer and residence time of energy for stream-dwelling organisms at the watershed scale.