Katherine Lininger is an Assistant Professor in the Geography Department at the University of Colorado Boulder. As a fluvial geomorphologist, her research is focused on river and floodplain dynamics and the interactions between geomorphic and ecological processes. She is particularly interested in the influence of river and floodplain processes on the flux and storage of organic carbon in floodplain soil and large wood; interactions between downed large wood, vegetation, and geomorphic processes; river and floodplain dynamics in the Sub-Arctic and Arctic; and coupled natural-human systems research related to rivers.
Abstract
Expanding understanding of wood in river corridors: floodplain wood dynamics and long-term datasets
The dynamics of wood in river systems influence both geomorphic and ecological processes. However, the controls on wood and organic matter deposition on floodplains have rarely been assessed, and there are relatively few studies that explore the bi-directional interactions between wood, standing trees, and geomorphic processes. In addition, observations of wood in rivers typically provide a snapshot in time, limiting insight that can be gained regarding temporal changes in wood loads and wood mobility within river systems. I discuss two studies that expand our understanding of wood dynamics in river corridors (channels and floodplains). First, I use field data from the Colorado Front Range to assess the influence of river corridor morphology and forest stand density on the depositional patterns of floodplain wood and organic matter accumulations resulting from the 2013 extreme flood. Then, I describe a tagged-wood study that resulted in data over 20 years in the Caspar Creek Experimental Watersheds in California. These studies underscore the need to assess wood dynamics outside of the river channel and over time to inform river management and restoration efforts.