Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2010KY140B

Assessing short-term changes to headwater stream structure and function following alternative forest harvesting

Institute: Kentucky
Year Established: 2010 Start Date: 2010-03-01 End Date: 2011-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $4,994 Total Non-Federal Funds: $10,157

Principal Investigators: Scott Grubbs

Abstract: The objectives of this project are to assess short-term (< 24 months) responses by headwater stream macroinvertebrate communities to three distinct stream-side management zone treatments in Clemons Fork, a 3rd-order Cumberland Plateau watershed located in the Kentucky River Basin of eastern Kentucky. Responses will be assessed by sampling macroinvertebrates in ephemeral, intermittent, and perennial channel sections. Statistical analyses will be used to compare taxa richness and density (no./square meter) of six variables: total community, EPT (Ephemeroptera + Plecoptera + Trichoptera) fauna, and four functional group measures (shredders, scrapers, filtering collectors and gathering collectors). Because the stream-side management zones were designed to mitigate negative impacts on stream biota, post-logging communities are expected to mimic both pre-logging (same channels before and after) and control (no logging activities) communities.