Riparian and Stream Monitoring on Lower Rush Creek in the Mono Lake Basin

Timeline: This project began in 2016 and is continuing currently.

Project Description and Goals: This project is being conducted through the Cal Poly Humboldt River Institute with Bill Trush as the principal investigator and James Graham as to co-principal investigator. The project focuses on the continued development of a long-term monitoring methodology that will objectively evaluate ecological performance of the Synthesis Report (2010) and its instream flow recommendations. For the evaluation of the riparian area, riparian tree stem lengths are measured under varied geomorphic settings which are affected by allocated water availability. Stream channel morphology attributes, that do not require fixed monitoring stations, are sampled to observe changes resulting from different water year types. Three spectral imagery recorded with a UAV is also being investigated as alternatives for physical tree stem length measurements as a way to quantify riparian species vigor.

Documents

Photos

Measuring annual stem growth of a yellow willow (Salix lutea) in the Rush Creek riparian corridor

Research Scientists Mason London (left) and Emily Cooper (right) measuring annual stem growth of a yellow willow (Salix lutea) in the Rush Creek riparian corridor as a means of assessing vigor in relationship to water availability.

 

Assessing the change in instream geomorphology in the lower section of Rush Creek

Research Scientists Mason London (left) and Emily Cooper (right) assessing the change in instream geomorphology in the lower section of Rush Creek by locating and measuring the depth of the riffle crest thalweg (RCT).

 

Lower Rush Creek