Geog 360:  Watershed Science and Policy, Spring 2001, University of Oregon

Habitat Gallery 
[http://geography.uoregon.edu/mcdowell/geog360/2001/geog360navbar.htm]
The pictures below were taken in a section of Camp Creek (approx. 1 km), a tributary to the Umpqua River, in the Oregon Coast Range. This section of the river is just above a falls that serves as a major barrier to anadromous salmonids. However, resident coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhyncus clarki clarki) and sculpin (Cottus spp.) are found in the stream. Photos are presented in an upstream-downstream order. All photos by Patrick Hurley.
Camp Creek and its tributaries emerge out of the relatively steep Coast Range. The gradient of the stream generally decreases with movement downstream. Looking upstream provides an idea of the vertical arrangement of stream structure. Boulders and other structural elements create a series of small steps down the stream in upper portions of the watershed.
A downed cedar trunk has effectively trapped cobbles moving downstream and helped form a riffle section (left of log). Downstream of the log a pool has developed.
A rather large (>3 feet diameter) cedar has fallen across the stream. Fallen trees provide important cover (protection) for fish and help shade the stream.
A native resident coastal cutthroat. These fish are considerably smaller than the anadromous form of the species, reflecting the lack of abundant food. This fish was approximately the same size as the average size caught in the stream by USGS researchers.
Looking down on a debris jam just above a tributary junction. Several conifer trunks have gotten hung up on large boulders in the channel and have served as an effective trap for other smaller debris and woody material moving down from upstream. There is a relatively large pool just below where the water is coming through in the bottom right central portion of the photo. There is a person kneeling along side the channel in the bottom right corner for scale.
Looking upstream at the debris jam pictured above. The pool visible in the aerial view is in between the large boulders in the middle of the photo.   The smooth water surface indicates a pool.  
The channel in this section of the creek is dominated by bedrock. Note the lack of structural elements and the relatively smooth, shallow flow. Also, notice the relatively small alder trees on the right side. 
A zero order channel adjacent to the stream facilitates the delivery of large wood to the stream. The stream channel is just visible in the lower left section of the picture. What looks like small tree debris is actually the beginnings of a beaver dam. 

Check Out Page 2

[http://geography.uoregon.edu/mcdowell/geog360/2001/geog360navbar.htm]

Last update:  02/12/07 10:45 PM
Department of Geography, University of Oregon, Eugene OR, 97403-1251