Wood-Smith, Richard D.; Swanson, Frederick J. 1997. The influence of large woody debris on forest stream geomorphology. In: Wang, Sam S. Y.; Langendoen, Eddy J.; Shields, F. Douglas Jr., eds. Management of landscapes disturbed by channel incision: stabilization, rehabilitation, restoration: Proceedings of the conference on management of landscapes disturbed by channel incision; 1997 May 19-23; Oxford, MS. Oxford, MS: The University of Mississippi: 133-138.
In forest streams large woody debris (LWD) commonly functions as an in-channel obstruction to stream flow andan agent of stream channel and riparian zone interaction. thereby strongly influencing channel processes. morphology.and location. LWD can significantly influence energy dissipation, pool formation. local base level, bank erosion.frequency and duration of overbank flow. bed surface texture. and sediment transport. deposition. and storage. Othereffects on channel morphology include influences on pool and bar type, location, size, and spacing. In addition to staticLWD. moving pieces and clusters transported by high streamflow or debris flow have significant geomorphic andecological effects. An understanding of the geomorphic function of LWD in forest streams can be applied to a variety ofland use problems relating to fluvial and riparian processes.