Streaming Media
Presentation Abstract
Monitoring is a key component of any successful ecological restoration project. Being able to see how an ecosystem responds to restoration treatments is not only vital for planning out future restoration work, but also for more fully understanding how an ecosystem functions. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between two culvert removals done in Carpenter Creek, a tidal creek feeding an estuarine wetland in North Kitsap, and the texture of the alluvial sediments bedded by the creek. To accomplish this task, we used the R programming language to analyze and visualize sediment texture data collected by Stillwaters Environmental Center, an environmental monitoring non-profit operating out of the local area. Our data visualizations suggest that the first culvert removal, done near the mouth of the creek in 2012, resulted in a change in overall texture and an increase in fine sediments, while in 2014 and 2016 sediment texture drifted back towards the base state seen in 2011. In 2018, when the second culvert, this time located upstream near the marsh, was removed, a greater change in texture and increase in fine sediment was observed. These results suggest that an increased level of stream connectivity has been achieved, thereby allowing a freer and more natural sediment transportation regime. This increased understanding of Carpenter Creek’s evolution was made possible through a long-term monitoring effort.
Session Title
Poster Session 3: Land - Water Connections
Conference Track
SSE14: Posters
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2022 : Online)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE-posters-137
Start Date
27-4-2022 4:00 PM
End Date
27-4-2022 4:30 PM
Type of Presentation
Poster
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Sedimentology--Washington (State)--Carpenter Creek (Skagit County); Restoration ecology--Washington (State)--Carpenter Creek (Skagit County); Environmental monitoring--Washington (State)--Carpenter Creek (Skagit County)
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Carpenter Creek (Skagit County, Wash.)
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Included in
Fresh Water Studies Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons
SEDIMENTOLOGY AND CITIZEN SCIENCE: ECOLOGICAL MONITORING IN CARPENTER CREEK, KINGSTON, WA.
Monitoring is a key component of any successful ecological restoration project. Being able to see how an ecosystem responds to restoration treatments is not only vital for planning out future restoration work, but also for more fully understanding how an ecosystem functions. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between two culvert removals done in Carpenter Creek, a tidal creek feeding an estuarine wetland in North Kitsap, and the texture of the alluvial sediments bedded by the creek. To accomplish this task, we used the R programming language to analyze and visualize sediment texture data collected by Stillwaters Environmental Center, an environmental monitoring non-profit operating out of the local area. Our data visualizations suggest that the first culvert removal, done near the mouth of the creek in 2012, resulted in a change in overall texture and an increase in fine sediments, while in 2014 and 2016 sediment texture drifted back towards the base state seen in 2011. In 2018, when the second culvert, this time located upstream near the marsh, was removed, a greater change in texture and increase in fine sediment was observed. These results suggest that an increased level of stream connectivity has been achieved, thereby allowing a freer and more natural sediment transportation regime. This increased understanding of Carpenter Creek’s evolution was made possible through a long-term monitoring effort.
