Biotic drivers of anastomosing channel pattern in headwater streams of the Colorado Rocky Mountains

Most of the headwater rivers in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, USA occur as single channels in steep, narrow valleys. Where variations in bedrock erodibility create segments of wider, lower gradient valleys, however, anastomosing channels can occur if one of two biotic drivers is present. Where a disturbance such as a forest fire or windstorm allows pioneer woody species to colonize valley bottoms, beavers can establish colonies. Beavers build dams that enhance overbank flooding and raise the local water table, limiting the return of conifers and promoting aspen-willow (Populus-Salix) forests that provide food for the beavers. Beavers facilitate the formation of multiple channels by digging small canal-like features across the floodplain and by damming the main channel and promoting channel avulsion. In old-growth conifer forests, channel-spanning logjams can enhance overbank flows that facilitate the development of multiple (sub)parallel channels that extend for 50-300 m downstream. Enhanced overbank flows and multiple channels increase the retention of instream wood, creating a self-enhancing feedback of more jams. At least two thresholds must be crossed for anastomosing driven by logjams to develop; a valley morphology threshold and a wood load threshold. Anastomosing channels are present where stream gradient < 4% and the ratio of (channel width/valley-bottom width) < 0.2; only single channels flow through old-growth forests in valley segments that are steeper and narrower. The average wood piece diameter in old-growth anastomosing channel segments > 20 cm, whereas average piece diameter in forests that have not been disturbed in a century is 10-20 cm; channels in these younger forests do not exhibit anastomosing planforms. Wood load in old-growth anastomosing channels averages 200 m3/ha; old-growth and younger forest single channels average < 100 m3/ha.