Diagram from the study.
Two-way interactions between logjams, channel, and floodplain characteristics that occur throughout the jam persistence cycle. Closer inter-jam spacing corresponds to jams that persist longer and wider floodplains, and this increases the frequency of floodplain inundation, sediment deposition, and side-channel formation. Breakup of jams results in downstream wood transport and gradual erosion of accumulated sediment, but newly formed side-channels remain present. Credit: Follett and Wohl [2024], Figure 1d
Editors’ Highlights are summaries of recent papers by AGU’s journal editors.
Source: Geophysical Research Letters

Logjams form naturally in streams with forested catchments and are used as humanmade interventions to promote water storage and hydraulic complexity. The range of structure and spacing found in natural logjams can inform the design of nature-based solutions.  

Follett and Wohl [2024] analyze the impact of channel-spanning logjams on river hydraulics using detailed field data for several streams in Rocky Mountain National Park. They assess how the local inter-jam spacing, structure, and stream power affect a set of hydraulic variables vital for hydrogeomorphic and ecosystem functions of a river system. The authors show that the highest gain in that function occurs for an intermediate range of inter-jam spacing relative to backwater length created by logjams in a river reach. Engineered logjams and wood re-introduction into channels in restoration projects could focus on this range to provide the highest benefit of such interventions.

Citation: Follett, E., & Wohl, E. (2024). Channel-spanning logjams and reach-scale hydraulic resistance in mountain streams. Geophysical Research Letters, 51, e2024GL110126. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL110126

—Valeriy Ivanov, Editor, Geophysical Research Letters

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