Stream Ecology

Salamanders signal health of McKenzie River watershed

News Brief Description:

A long-term study of salamanders in the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest show steep population decline after recent forest fires. Long-term data put population fluxes into a broader context and allow researchers to understand the impact of the recent wildfires as compared to prior disturbances such as floods. The study is highlighted in "Lookout Eugene Springfield": https://lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/environment/2025/04/15/salamanders-mckenzie-river-watershed/

Andrews Forest Monthly Meeting April 2025

Event Date:

Friday, April 4, 2025

Event Brief Description:

Andrews Forest Monthly Meeting: Friday, April 4, 9-11 AM

Presentations:

“Climate change, microrefugia, and long-term data at the Andrews Forest” presented by Julia Jones, Distinguished Professor and Director of the Geography and Geospatial Science program, OSU.
“Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Decomposition Following Fire Disturbances” graduate student lightning talk presented by Meagan White, Master's Student, Arismendi Freshwater Ecology Lab, Oregon State University

After our presentations we will move into our community meeting, which includes updates on graduate student activities, site, WNF, community, education, new faces, and recent publications.

Peavy 315, Oregon State University. Contact Lina DiGregorio for zoom option.

Our meetings follow the academic year. Upcoming meetings: April 4, May 2, June 6.

Stream Ecology Spring 2024

Lead Field Technician position opening NEON

News Brief Description:

The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) is recruiting for a Lead Field Technician position to assist with sampling at McRae Creek (located within the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest) and at Martha Creek (located at the Wind River Experimental Forest near Carson, WA). The position is based in Vancouver, WA. Frequent travel is required for work at McRae Creek, with lodging provided and per diem reimbursement for meal and incidental expenses.

NEON sampling activities include but are not limited to: discharge; water and sediment chemistry collections; reaeration; geomorphological mapping; monitoring populations of algae/periphyton, microbes, macroinvertebrates, aquatic plants, and fish; and maintenance of environmental sensors. An ideal candidate will have at least a year of related experience, a safety-focused mindset, and enthusiasm for the ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest.

For more information about the NEON program, see https://www.neonscience.org/. For more information about NEON aquatic sampling, see https://www.neonscience.org/data-collection/aquatic-organisms. For a detailed job description and to apply, visit this job posting: NEON - Lead Field Technician - Limnology - WA in Vancouver, WA | Biology at Battelle.

Fullest consideration will be given to applications received by May 8.

Forest Canopy Light and Streams

Forests and streams are inextricably linked in our western Oregon landscapes, so the significant changes to the forest resulting from the fire will inevitably affect the streams. As research from Mack Creek in the Andrews Forest has demonstrated, wood input from the forest fundamentally shapes the geomorphology and habitat of streams. In McRae Creek, OSU professor Dana Warren and his team have been

Drought Experiment

OSU Professors Dana Warren, Catalina Segura, and PhD student Madelyn Maffia are investigating the response of trout and salamanders to drought conditions in a tributary of McRae Creek. The researchers are using an experimental approach to mimic drought by (1) diverting stream flow to create a low-flow reach and (2) passively heating water through a coil system to increase water temperature.

Long-Term Study of Trout and Salamanders

The first week of September typically marks the annual trip to Mack Creek for our team of researchers working on a long-term study of trout and salamanders. Since 1987, we have visited the same sections of Mack Creek to measure the numbers, size, and mass of these aquatic vertebrates. The study constitutes one of the longest continuous records of salmonid populations on record. The Lookout Fire burned over Mack Creek so we will not be able to go to the site to sample and collect data this year.

River Concepts and Mack Creek

Early in its run across the H.J Andrews Experimental Forest, the Lookout Fire burned into Mack Creek and it still continues to burn in that area. The old-growth section of Mack Creek is a place of special importance to everyone who has ever been there. It has been central to the International Biological Program, the River Continuum Concept, Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER), and many other major projects of discovery. Mack Creek is the site that launched our work on large wood in rivers in the mid-1970s, work that changed how we see and manage large wood in streams and rivers.

McRae Creek NEON Site

McRae Creek, on the edge of the Lookout Fire this week, is home to an aquatic field site of the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON). The continental-scale network collects long-term ecological data to understand how ecosystems are changing. The NEON study reach at McRae Creek includes a meteorological station and two in-stream sensor stations to characterize environmental conditions and water quality. Since 2017, NEON staff have collected water quality samples and monitor populations of fish, benthic microbes, macroinvertebrates, and more.