Br!tions, professional judgment, and other factors areimportant ingre

looking ahead, it is important that current ande policies and practices involving fire reflect the

nging character of the forest, society, and theonment. Perspectives are provided for managers,ators, legislators, the judiciary, and the public.

5. search and Information Needs

An understanding of the relationship betweenprescr d fire and subsequent changes in vegetationand h 'tat and their effects on wildlife populations isneeded. This includes situations where wildlife canbecome sts, causing damage to seedlings, saplings,and m trees.

A owledge of the interactions between fireand root dis es.

DocurnIgntation of the cost-effectiveness of pre-scribed burning\ as a technique for reducing the haz-ard of wildfire, est outbreaks, and disease.

Comparis•of the amount of nutrients lostduring wildfire ver prescribed burning as a functionof frequency and s erity of the bums.

Reliable forec of the long-term consequencesof nutrient losses, ch es in soil structure and func-tioning, and accelerate erosion on site productivity asa result of intense wildfir or severe prescribed burns.

Long-term document on of the benefits (or lackthereof) of prescribed b on timber and forageproduction.

Data on the health hatards of chemical com-pounds like polynuclear aromdic hydrocarbons andaldehydes in smoke.

Information on the effects o fire on wildlife andaquatic habitat in riparian and he dwater zones.

Basin- and landscape-level sttlies which assessthe cumulative effects of road construction, logging,burning, and other management acti'ities.

Public education programs out the role,impacts, and benefits of natural and p scribed fire.

K. Assessments of the contribution of atural andprescribed fire to global climatic change.

Obviously, much remains to be learned out firein Pacific Northwest ecosystems. But sufficien inf orma-lion exists today in most cases to make ratio al deci-sions concerning the use and management fire inforests and rangelands in this region—a regio wherefire has and will continue to play a pivotal rol Thekey is to proceed with cautious deliberation, b dingin enough flexibility in our management pl andsystems to accommodate new information and vel-opments as they emerge.

-A1/ AAoci

INTEGRATION OF COPEDRAINAGE BASIN STUDIES

Several studies in COPE investigate ecology andmanagement of riparian zones and streams in terms offisheries, wildlife, geomorphology, and vegetation. Inthe fall of 1987 members of these study groups metperiodically to discuss ways of increasing the level ofintegration among these studies and approaching thework from a broad, drainage basin perspective. Theyrecognized that, although much research had beendone in these disciplines within and outside of COPE,there was a need for interdisciplinary research onpatterns and processes that occur on the scale ofbasins the size of Drift Creek and Elk River (25 - 250km2). The Integration Study was started in October1989 to further this goal.

This report briefly describes the conceptual frame-work for the Integration Study and presents severalhypotheses within this framework that may be testedas part of this study.

Integrated research is important to achieving thegoal of COPE, which is to 'develop knowledge thatwill contribute to increased economic and social bene-fits derived from the forests and streams of the OregonCoast Range.' The geomorphologic, vegetation, wild-life, and stream components of coastal ecosystemsinteract strongly. As examples, beavers influence fishand riparian vegetation; management of uplandsvegetation (tree cutting, roads) influences peak flows,debris slides, and (indirectly) fish. Many of thesecomponents are being examined in individual COPEstudies, but the Integration Study is needed to increasecoordination among these other studies and to exam-ine selected links not covered by them.

ObjectivesThe following objectives will help guide this study:

Coordinate and facilitate interaction among thefisheries, riparian vegetation, wildlife, and geomorphol-ogy/landslide projects of COPE with regard to concep-tual approach, sampling, and data management inorder to increase integration of research at the drain-age basin scale.

Characterize drainage basin structure, such asdrainage network and valley floor geomorphology, asneeded to answer specific research questions.

3. Examine one or more patterns of associationamong fish, vegetation, wildlife, and geomorphologyto interpret controls on productivity of resources suchas fish, wood, and wildlife.

Conceptual Framework forIntegration

A conceptual framework to facilitate integration ofthe riparian work is an important first step, and itsdescription occupies the bulk of this report. Building a

5

=MG

,zamework for the study of patterns and the processesthat are affected by and shape those patterns requiresthe perspectives and tools of landscape ecology.

Landscape Ecology

Landscape ecology deals with the patterning of thecomponents that make up a landscape, the forcescreating that patterning, and the ecological conse-quences of the patterns (see COPE Report 1(3):6-8). Alandscape is a heterogeneous mosaic of land forms,vegetation types, d isturbance histories, and land uses.Landforms (e.g., side slopes, channels of different sizes,headwalls, floodplains) create the physical stage onwhich organisms and physical agents play out theirecological roles. Each landscape patch may beunique in resource abundance, rates of processes, andbiotic structure and composition. The spatial arrange-ment of these patches results from several factors, in-cluding natural disturbances like wildfire or windthrowand human activities (e.g., logging). These biotic proc-esses and disturbances are modified by environmentalconstraints such as climate or soil nutrient status. All ofthese factors occur across a spectrum of spatial andtemporal scales. Consequently, a landscape is com-prised of patches of differing size, shape, structure,composition, and temporal duration.

This conceptual approach for studying landscapesis important because it offers the potential of predict-ing how landscape-scale ecological systems will re-spond to natural disturbances and human activities.With this ability, management tools can be designedfor producing landscapes with desirable characteristicsand mixes of products.

A Drainage Basin Perspective

Drainage basins are chosen as the landscape unitfor analysis when the research and managementquestions concern stream and riparian systems. Mostof the work currently being considered for the Integra-lion Study is of this nature.

Critical to understanding drainage basins is aknowledge of connectors in the system—fish, sediment,warm and cold water, terrestrial animals, tree boles—which can move from one stream segment or portionof the landscape to another. Some specific examplesmay help. In a study in the Coast Range, Fred Ever-est, Lee Benda, and Jim Sedell (PNW) have observedthat the local effects on fish habitat at depositionalsites of debris flows can range from negative to posi-tive, depending on the location of the debris flowwithin a drainage basin. In a study in the Elk River,Bob Beschta, Michele McSwain (OSU), and GordyReeves (PNW) have found that habitat in reaches oftributary streams with naturally open riparian canopyand relatively warmer water temperatures are mostheavily utilised by fish. However, careful manage-ment of tributaries without these 'open' reaches maybe important to maintain their contributions of coolwater to the mainstream, which provides significanthabitat and is a source of water for the Elk RiverHatchery where high water temperature is a criticalissue. In both of these cases a drainage basin per-

spective is essential to interpreting ecosystem operator.and managing for desired effects.

Coordination and FacilitationPlanned activities for the Integration Study fall into

two categories. Efforts towards coordination and facili-tation of other COPE studies will fulfill objective 1.Testing selected hypotheses will fulfill objectives 2 and3.

Coordination and facilitation will be a major effort,not to produce a science product per se, but to facili-tate integrative work within and among COPE riparianstudies. Because there are many people working inother COPE studies, a relatively small amount of efforttowards coordination and facilitation may result inrelatively large payoffs in integrating COPE research.

Geographic Information Systems will probably bean important tool to COPE research (see article onpage 8). The Integration Study has already coordi-nated acquisition of three GIS systems, ACR/INFO onSun workstations, and MOSS and GRASS on a DataGeneral minicomputer. The next steps are to makeGIS capabilities widely known, provide informationneeds analyses (described below), organize a systemfor entry of data into GIS format, guide users in dataentry and analysis, and coordinate use of GIS facilities,

Entry of data into a GIS can be quite costly be-cause datasets are often large and data in differentthemes must have identical boundaries in many in-stances. The accuracy, attributes and cell sizes, forexample, must match the needs of the analyses forquestions to be answered. For these reasons entry ofdata into a GIS must be carefully planned. Informa-tion Needs Analysis, the mechanism for this planning,will be provided by the Integration Study to all otherCOPE studies.

Several forums will be created to promote discus-sions among people in different disciplines who mayotherwise not discuss potential links among their re-search. Periodic meetings will be held that includebrief presentations of research plans or results relevantto integration, followed by ample time for discussions.

One or two retreats will be organized each year toprovide time to disconnect from other responsibilitiesand discuss and reflect on COPE work. These willprovide a setting for presenting plans and results froma wide range of COPE studies, searching for integra-tive questions to address with existing data, rede-signing existing and future research to allow more linksto be made between datasets of different studies, andplanning future directions for the Integration Study.

Ideas for research are often sparked when climb-ing over the lcmdforms, feeling the stream push againstyour legs, walking through the plants, and hearing orseeing the animcils in their habitat. Several field tripswill be held each year so fisheries, vegetation, geo-morphology, and wildlife specialists can experiencewhat those in other specialties see in an ecosystem,reflect on what that means to their own perspective,and look for new points of interaction.

6

ARIAN-

Research DirectionsThe general direction of research will be to inves-

tigate the ways geomorphology and management ac-tivities control resource productivity. Lanclforms directand constrain the physical and biological processesthat provide products and non-commodity values de-sired from the Coast Range. Management can signifi-cantly modify these processes and outputs.

One potentially fruitful area of research involvesdebris slides because they have important effects onstream ecosystems. Sliding down steep tributaries,they provide boulders and coarse woody debris tolarger channels. These in turn create pools, importantfor fish habitat. Gravel delivered to bedrock channelscan provide spawning beds; conversely, the sand andsilt delivered can clog gravel in spawning beds, atleast in the short run. The effect on fish will vary,depending on stream bed and channel structure char-acteristics (among others), and will change over peri-ods of years to centuries in many streams. Manage-ment actions can significantly affect debris slides andso, fish; but the direction of this effect often cannot bepredicted.

Another area that may be investigated is the roleof beaver. Beaver ponds are known to be goodrearing habitat for some salmonids, especially coho,and may significantly reduce peak flows where theyare common. Beaver ponds do not occur in steeptributary streams or in down stream reaches wheredams are destroyed by high peak flow energies asso-ciated with larger drainage areas and steeper streamgradients. It is easy to see that management mayaffect beaver dam occurrence if cutting causes in-creased storm flows that further limit suitable beaverdam sites, but the potential importance of this is un-known.

At present, these are two directions we anticipateresearch will take in the Integration Study. Choices ofdirections and specific hypotheses to test will be madefollowing technical review of the study plan.

ConclusionsThe Integration Study will play an important role

by increasing the level of interaction among otherCOPE studies and examining potentially important linksamong components of coastal ecosystems. This willbe accomplished by activities that make data widelyavailable, facilitate data management and analysis(especially use of GIS), and bring together scientists indifferent disciplines. This will also be accomplished byconducting research that illuminates constraints onproductivity of Oregon Coast Range landscapes.

Recommended ReadingBenda, L. 1990. The influence of debris flows on chan-

nels and valley floors in the Oregon Coast Range,U.S.A. In Earth Surface Processes and Landforms.31 ms. p.

Bruner, K.L. 1989. Effects of beaver on streams,streamside habitat, and coho salmon fry popula-

tions in two coastal Oregon streams. M.S. thesis.Department of Forest Science, Oregon State Univer-sity, Corvallis.

Hansen, A., and F. Swanson. 1990. A landscape per-spective for forest management. COPE Report1(3):6-8

McSwain, M.D. 1987. Summer stream temperatures andchannel characteristics of a southwestern Oregoncoastal stream. M.S. thesis. Department of ForestEngineering, Oregon State University, Corvallis.102 p.

Naiman, R.J., C.A. Johnston, and J.C. Kelley. 1988. Al-teration of North American streams by beaver. Bi-oscience 38(11):753-762.

Reeves, G. 1990. Distribution patterns of fish in the ElkRiver basin. COPE Report 1(3):4-6.

Joe Means and Fred Swanson,PNW

Andy Hansen,Adaptive COPE

MAV TATION

Vegetation influences fish, timber, water, and wild-life esource values found in riparian zones. Riparianveg ation is inherently dynamic due to interactionsbetty_ -n hydrologic, geomorphic, and biological proc-esses. Placing riparian vegetation in a managedlanclsc•both changes and accelerates these dynam-ics. We ow that changes in vegetation dynamicstake place, •ut we know little of their exact natureand, thus, e of their implications for riparian re-source values. We know even less about how tocompensate for ese changes. Below is a brief sum-mary of how n• •I an vegetation interacts with fish,wildlife, water, an. timber resources, and of what weknow or surmise • • •ut the dynamics of the vegeta-tion. We also desc e a new COPE study on thedynamics and mccnag ent of riparian vegetation inthe managed landscape.

Vegetation affects the quatic environment inseveral ways. For example, vegetation shades thestream influencing water tem -rature and rates ofprimary productivity. The tre component of thevegetation is the source of cocas woody debris, amajor contributor to stream structure d fish habitat.Leaf and twig litter feed the aquaticsod chain.

Riparian vegetation also regulates ream waterquality. Streamside vegetation traps se ent fromupslope erosion and removes excess nut ents fromground water as they move through the s towardthe stream. Hardwoods degrade drinking w. -r qual-ity in slow-moving stream systems with their hi.• ' litterinput in the fall. Alder may seasonally in easestream nitrogen when the soil water table is hi

In addition to its influence on the aquatic s .tem,the varptatinia,..„al.„1,ipaziwaimarie tant

7