GE008: Road-related erosion from the February 1996 flood in the Lookout Creek and Blue River watersheds, Oregon
Notice
"As Is" Basis: All content, including maps and forecasts, is provided without warranties. Users are advised to independently verify critical information.
Citation
Jones, J.; Wemple, B. 2011. Road-related erosion from the February 1996 flood in the Lookout Creek and Blue River watersheds, Oregon Long-Term Ecological Research Andrews Forest LTER Site. [Database]. Available: https://andrewsforest-stage.forestry.oregonstate.edu/data/fsdb-data-catalog/GE008 Accessed 2026-05-10.
Abstract
Studies of the effects of forest roads on mountain watersheds (e.g. Jones and Grant 1996; Wemple et al. 1996) led to asking how sedimentation processes were affected by roads during the flood of February, 1996. Of interest were how roads influenced erosional processes and how flood-induced erosion affected the transportation network. By employing concepts of sediment budgeting and disturbance cascades, this study aims to create a landscape context for understanding the impact of an extensive road network on the geomorphic imprint left by this flood of record in February 1996.
Coverage
Temporal coverage: 1999-05-02 to 1999-09-02
Geographic coverage: N/A
Bounds: W N/A, E N/A, N N/A, S N/A
Purpose
- Studies of the effects of forest roads on mountain watersheds (e.g. Jones and Grant, 1996; Wemple et al., 1996) led to asking how sedimentation processes were affected by roads during the flood. Of interest were how roads influenced erosional processes and how flood-induced erosion affected the transportation network. By employing concepts of sediment budgeting and disturbance cascades, this study aims to create a landscape context for understanding the impact of an extensive road network on the geomorphic imprint left by this flood of record in February 1996.
Project
Title: Long-Term Ecological Research
Personnel
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Sherri L. Johnson - Principal Investigator US Forest Service ;Pacific NW Research Station ;3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USAPhone: 541-758-7771Email: sherri.johnson2@usda.gov, sherri.johnson@oregonstate.edu
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Julia A. Jones - Principal Investigator Oregon State University;Department of Geosciences; Wilkinson Hall 104, Corvallis, OR, 97331-5506, USAPhone: (541) 737-1224Email: Julia.Jones@oregonstate.edu, geojulia@comcast.netORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9429-8925
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Matthew G Betts - Principal Investigator Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society; 201E Richardson Hall; College of Forestry; Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331Phone: (541) 737-3841Email: matt.betts@oregonstate.edu
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Michael P. Nelson - Principal Investigator Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society; 201K Richarson Hall; College of Forestry; Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331Phone: 541-737-9221Email: mpnelson@oregonstate.eduORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6917-4752
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David Bell - Principal Investigator Email: david.bell@usda.gov, david.bell@oregonstate.edu
Abstract
- The H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest is a living laboratory that provides unparalleled opportunities for the study of forest and stream ecosystems in the central Cascade Range of Oregon. Since 1980, as a part of the National Science Foundation Long Term Ecological Research (NSF-LTER) program, the Andrews Experimental Forest has become a leader in the analysis of forest and stream ecosystem dynamics.
- Long-term field experiments and measurement programs have focused on climate dynamics, streamflow, water quality, and vegetation succession. Currently researchers are working to develop concepts and tools needed to predict effects of natural disturbance, land use, and climate change on ecosystem structure, function, and species composition.
- The Andrews Experimental Forest is administered cooperatively by the USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, Oregon State University and the Willamette National Forest. Funding for the research program comes from the National Science Foundation (NSF), US Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, Oregon State University, and other sources.
Funding
Data were provided by the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest research program, funded by the National Science Foundation's Long-Term Ecological Research Program (DEB 2025755), US Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, and Oregon State University. National Science Foundation: DEB1440409
Study Area Description
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Long-Term Ecological Research The Andrews Forest is situated in the western Cascade Range of Oregon, and covers the entire 15,800-acre (6400-ha) drainage basin of Lookout Creek. Elevation ranges from 1350 to 5340 feet (410 to 1630 m). Broadly representative of the rugged mountainous landscape of the Pacific Northwest, the Andrews Forest contains excellent examples of the region's conifer forests and associated wildlife and stream ecosystems. These forests are among the tallest and most productive in the world, with tree heights of often greater than 250 ft (75 m). Streams are steep, cold and clean, providing habitat for numerous aquatic organisms.
Associated Party
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Julia A. Jones
Role: Principal InvestigatorOregon State University;Department of Geosciences; Wilkinson Hall 104, Corvallis, OR, 97331-5506, USAPhone: (541) 737-1224Email: Julia.Jones@oregonstate.edu, geojulia@comcast.net
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Julia A. Jones
Role: CreatorOregon State University;Department of Geosciences; Wilkinson Hall 104, Corvallis, OR, 97331-5506, USAPhone: (541) 737-1224Email: Julia.Jones@oregonstate.edu, geojulia@comcast.net
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Frederick J. Swanson
Role: Other ResearcherUSDA Forest Service;Pacific NW Research Station;3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USAPhone: (541) 750-7355Email: fred.swanson@oregonstate.edu
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Beverley C. Wemple
Role: AbstractorDepartment of Geography;University of Vermont;, Burlington, VT, 05405, USAEmail: Beverley.Wemple@uvm.edu
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Beverley C. Wemple
Role: CreatorDepartment of Geography;University of Vermont;, Burlington, VT, 05405, USAEmail: Beverley.Wemple@uvm.edu
Contact
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Information Manager
Andrews Forest LTER Program, US Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR, 97331Email: hjaweb@fsl.orst.edu
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Beverley C. Wemple
Department of Geography;University of Vermont;, Burlington, VT, 05405, USAEmail: Beverley.Wemple@uvm.edu
Publisher
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Andrews Forest LTER Site
Role: PublisherForest Ecosystems and Society Department in Forestry, Oregon State University, 201K Richardson Hall, Corvallis, OR, 97331-5752Phone: (541) 737-8480Email: lterweb@fsl.orst.edu
Study Description
Studies of the effects of forest roads on mountain watersheds (e.g. Jones and Grant 1996; Wemple et al. 1996) led to asking how sedimentation processes were affected by roads during the flood of February, 1996. Of interest were how roads influenced erosional processes and how flood-induced erosion affected the transportation network. By employing concepts of sediment budgeting and disturbance cascades, this study aims to create a landscape context for understanding the impact of an extensive road network on the geomorphic imprint left by this flood of record in February 1996. Studies of the effects of forest roads on mountain watersheds (e.g. Jones and Grant, 1996; Wemple et al., 1996) led to asking how sedimentation processes were affected by roads during the flood. Of interest were how roads influenced erosional processes and how flood-induced erosion affected the transportation network. By employing concepts of sediment budgeting and disturbance cascades, this study aims to create a landscape context for understanding the impact of an extensive road network on the geomorphic imprint left by this flood of record in February 1996. Field Methods - GE008
Purpose: Studies of the effects of forest roads on mountain watersheds (e.g. Jones and Grant, 1996; Wemple et al., 1996) led to asking how sedimentation processes were affected by roads during the flood. Of interest were how roads influenced erosional processes and how flood-induced erosion affected the transportation network. By employing concepts of sediment budgeting and disturbance cascades, this study aims to create a landscape context for understanding the impact of an extensive road network on the geomorphic imprint left by this flood of record in February 1996.
Methods
Method Steps
Field Methods - GE008
- A survey of the road network in the Lookout Creek and Blue River watersheds was conducted to inventory road-related sedimentation resulting from the February 1996 flood. During the spring and summer of 1996, the entire road network in both basins was inventoried for erosional and depositional features associated with roads. Each feature was field located on 7.5' topographic maps and later digitized into a geographic information system (GIS).
- To distinguish among forms of erosion and deposition associated with roads, a typology of features, based on the process type and the point of origin relative to the road zone (defined as the cutslope, road surface and ditch, and fillslope), was developed. Two general process types were considered: mass wasting and fluvial. Mass wasting involves en masse detachment and transport of sediment and organic debris on hillslopes (debris slides) and in channels (debris flows). Mass wasting can also involve displacement of soil without evacuation from the site (e.g. slumps). The features produced by these processes are referred to in this paper as mass movements. Fluvial processes involve particle by particle transport of sediment by flowing water in channels (bedload transport) and on hillslopes or roads (incision and gullying), and produce what are generally refer to here as fluvial features. Four points of origin were considered: above the road, the cutslope, the road surface and ditch, and the fillslope. Three types of debris slides were distinguished for this study: those initiated on hillslopes above roads were termed hillslope slides, those originating on cutslopes were termed cutslope slides, and those from road fills were termed fillslope slides. Other processes originating above roads included debris flows and bedload transport that plugged culverts. Processes originating within the road zone included slumps, ditch incision, and gullying.
- The length, width and depth of erosional scars and deposits were measured as appropriate for each feature to determine sediment volumes. Volumes are reported here to the nearest 5 m. The accuracy of volume estimates, however, varies by the size of the feature, and reported volumes are considered to be precise only to two significant figures.
Sampling
Study Extent
- The study was conducted in the Lookout Creek and Blue River watersheds, located approximately 70 km east of Eugene in the western Oregon Cascades. Elevations in the basins range from 400 meters to over 1500 meters, with slopes ranging from 0 to 80 percent. The basins are underlaid by Tertiary and early Quaternary volcanic rocks, primarily ash flows, mudflows and pyroclastic flows at the lower elevations (below 800 meters) and andesite and basalt lava flows in the higher elevations. The geomorphic history of the basins is shaped by glacial, fluvial and mass wasting processes. Glacial deposits are evident in the southeast portion of the Blue River drainage. Lacustrine sediments and varve deposits are found along the banks of lower Blue River and Lookout Creek. Geologic mapping (Swanson and James, 1975) and landslide inventories (Dyrness, 1967; Swanson and Dyrness, 1975) document the history of deep-seated earthflows and shallow landsliding in the area.
- Mean annual precipitation ranges from 2300 to over 2500 mm at the upper elevations (Greenland, 1994). Over 80% of the precipitation falls between November to April, typically as rain below 400 meters. Elevations between 400 and 1200 meters have been termed the "transient snow zone" (Harr, 1981) where precipitation falls alternately as rain and snow. A permanent snow zone develops during most winters above 1200 meters. Floods in the region often result from relatively warm rain events on an accumulated snowpack (Harr, 1981).
- Summary of characteristics of study basins
- Lookout Creek basin
- Watershed area: 62 km
- Harvested area: 22%
- Drainage density: 3.0 km/km
- Road length: 118 km
- Road density: 1.9 km/km
- Area of basin in roads: 3.1%
- Blue River basin (upper)
- Watershed area: 119 km
- Harvested area: 25%
- Drainage density: 2.9 km/km
- Road length: 230 km
- Road density: 1.9 km/km
- Area of basin in roads: 3.1%
- Notes:
- Estimated winter baseflow drainage density (see Wemple et al., 1996).
- Computed using an average width of road cut, surface, and fill of 16 meters from Silen and Gratkowski, 1953.
- Vegetation in the basins consists of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) and western red cedar (Thuja plicata). Stands of Pacific silver fir (Abies amabilis) occur above 800 m. Forest harvesting and road construction have occurred in both basins since the late 1930's (Jones and Grant, 1996). Harvesting and road construction in the Lookout Creek watershed occurred primarily in the 1950's and 1960's. Most of the harvesting and road construction in the Blue River watershed occurred between 1960 and 1985.
- Sampling frequency: once only
Sampling Description
- Following the February 1996 flood, a survey is conducted in two watersheds in the western Oregon Cascades to examine flood impacts associated with roads. The approach to this study included four components: (1) an inventory of road-related sedimentation features, (2) an analysis of landscape position of these features, (3) an analysis of process complexity and disturbance cascades, and (4) a mass balance of sediment relative to the zone of road influence.
Software
No software entries listed in this EML file.
Keywords
- LTER controlled vocabulary: debris flows (theme), landslides (theme), disturbance (theme), erosion (theme), sedimentation (theme), inorganic nutrients (theme), roads (theme)
- LTER core research areas: disturbance (theme), inorganic nutrients (theme)
Taxonomic Hierarchy
No taxonomic hierarchy listed in this EML file.
Data Entities
| # | Entity | Metadata | Data |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
GE00801
GE00801 Erosion/Depositional Features with Sediment Volumes: |
METADATA | DATA |
Metadata
GE00801 - GE00801
Object name: GE00801.csv
Records: N/A
Attributes: 15
File size: 4695 byte
Checksum (MD5): ffcf914dbcb6d59b5b08512aba2a5eb0
Format: headers=1, recordDelimiter=\r\n, fieldDelimiter=,, quoteCharacter=", orientation=column
Constraints (2)
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primaryKey: PRIMARY GE00801.F_NUMBER
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notNullConstraint: NOTNULL GE00801.FORMAT, GE00801.BASIN, GE00801.DECADE, GE00801.ELEV, GE00801.F_TYPE, GE00801.POSITION, GE00801.STCODE, GE00801.F_NUMBER, GE00801.VOL_H, GE00801.VOL_OUT, GE00801.VOL_R, GE00801.VOL_S, GE00801.VOL_T
Attributes (15)
STCODE - char(4) (nominal)
ID: GE00801.STCODE
Study code
Type system: Microsoft SQL Server 2008
FORMAT - numeric(1,0) (interval)
ID: GE00801.FORMAT
Format number
Type system: Microsoft SQL Server 2008
Unit: number
Precision: 1
Numeric domain: type=whole, min=1.0000 (exclusive=false), max=1.0000 (exclusive=false)
F_NUMBER - numeric(3,0) (ratio)
ID: GE00801.F_NUMBER
Feature number (erosional or depositional features)
Type system: Microsoft SQL Server 2008
Unit: number
Precision: 1.000000
Numeric domain: type=integer, min=1.0000 (exclusive=false), max=103.0000 (exclusive=false)
F_TYPE - char(2) (nominal)
ID: GE00801.F_TYPE
Type of feature (based on the point of origin relative to road network)
Type system: Microsoft SQL Server 2008
Code definitions (8)
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hs
Hillslope slides
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ff
Fillslope slides
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cf
Cutslope slides
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df
Debris flows
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s
Slumps
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pc
Plugged culverts
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id
Incised ditches
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g
Gullies
LANDSLIDE - char(8) (nominal)
ID: GE00801.LANDSLIDE
Refers to identification number in Swanson/Wallenstein inventory of landslides - see GE007
Type system: Microsoft SQL Server 2008
VOL_H - numeric(6,0) (ratio)
ID: GE00801.VOL_H
Volume of hillslope material
Type system: Microsoft SQL Server 2008
Unit: cubic meters
Precision: 1.000000
Numeric domain: type=integer, min=0.0000 (exclusive=false), max=6000.0000 (exclusive=false)
VOL_S - numeric(6,0) (ratio)
ID: GE00801.VOL_S
Volume stored on the road
Type system: Microsoft SQL Server 2008
Unit: cubic meters
Precision: 1.000000
Numeric domain: type=integer, min=0.0000 (exclusive=false), max=4750.0000 (exclusive=false)
VOL_T - numeric(6,0) (ratio)
ID: GE00801.VOL_T
Volume transported through the road
Type system: Microsoft SQL Server 2008
Unit: cubic meters
Precision: 1.000000
Numeric domain: type=integer, min=0.0000 (exclusive=false), max=5000.0000 (exclusive=false)
VOL_R - numeric(6,0) (ratio)
ID: GE00801.VOL_R
Volume of road material
Type system: Microsoft SQL Server 2008
Unit: cubic meters
Precision: 1.000000
Numeric domain: type=integer, min=0.0000 (exclusive=false), max=6255.0000 (exclusive=false)
VOL_OUT - numeric(6,0) (ratio)
ID: GE00801.VOL_OUT
Volume yielded below the road
Type system: Microsoft SQL Server 2008
Unit: cubic meters
Precision: 1.000000
Numeric domain: type=integer, min=0.0000 (exclusive=false), max=6255.0000 (exclusive=false)
BASIN - char(2) (nominal)
ID: GE00801.BASIN
Refers to basin where feature was mapped
Type system: Microsoft SQL Server 2008
Code definitions (2)
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lo
Lookout creek
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br
Upper blue river
DECADE - char(2) (nominal)
ID: GE00801.DECADE
Refers to decade of construction for road on which feature was mapped
Type system: Microsoft SQL Server 2008
Code definitions (5)
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50
Before 1950
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60
Before 1960
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70
1961-1970
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80
1971-1980
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90
1981-1990
ELEV - char(1) (nominal)
ID: GE00801.ELEV
Refers to elevation zone in which feature was mapped
Type system: Microsoft SQL Server 2008
Code definitions (3)
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1
400-800 meter elevation
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2
801-1200 meter elevation
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3
>1200 meter elevation
POSITION - char(1) (nominal)
ID: GE00801.POSITION
Landscape position of inventoried feature
Type system: Microsoft SQL Server 2008
Code definitions (3)
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m
Midslopes: everything not defined as valley floor or ridge/upslope
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v
Valley floors: delineated with a 200 meter buffer around fifth-order streams and delineated with a 100 meter buffer around fourth-order streams
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r
Riddges/upperslopes defined with a 100 meter buffer on a linear network of ridges digitized from 7.5' topographic maps
ASSOC - char(6) (nominal)
ID: GE00801.ASSOC
Refers to number of associated feature
Type system: Microsoft SQL Server 2008
Units
| number | number | dimensionless | number | dimensionless | 1 | dimensionless number, i.e., ratio, count |
| cubic meters | m3 | volume | meterCubed | meterCubed | 1 | cubic meters |
Intellectual Rights
Data Use Agreement:
The re-use of scientific data has the potential to greatly increase communication, collaboration and synthesis within and among disciplines, and thus is fostered, supported and encouraged. This Data Set is released under the Creative Commons license CC BY "Attribution" (see: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Creative Commons license CC BY - Attribution is a license that allows others to distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon your work (even commercially), as long as you are credited for the original creation. This license accommodates maximum dissemination and use of licensed materials.
It is considered professional conduct and an ethical obligation to acknowledge the work of other scientists. The Data User is asked to provide attribution of the original work if this data package is shared in whole or by individual parts or used in the derivation of other products. A recommended citation is provided for each Data Set in the Andrews LTER data catalog (see: http://andlter.forestry.oregonstate.edu/data/catalog/datacatalog.aspx). A generic citation is also provided for this Data Set on the website https://portal.edirepository.org in the summary metadata page. Data Users are thus strongly encouraged to consider consultation, collaboration and/or co-authorship with the Data Set Creator.
While substantial efforts are made to ensure the accuracy of data and associated documentation, complete accuracy of data sets cannot be guaranteed and all data are made available "as is." The Data User should be aware, however, that data are updated periodically and it is the responsibility of the Data User to check for new versions of the data. The data authors and the repository where these data were obtained shall not be liable for damages resulting from any use or misinterpretation of the data.
General acknowledgement: Data were provided by the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest research program, funded by the National Science Foundation's Long-Term Ecological Research Program (DEB 2025755), US Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, and Oregon State University.
Licensed
License: N/A
Maintenance
Maintenance update frequency: notPlanned
Description
- An update history is logged and maintained with each new version of every dataset.
Change History
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Version1 (1999-07-23) Original metadata creation
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Version2 (2005-04-15) Moved database to SQL server