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Influence of Log Truck Traffic and Road Hydrology on Sediment Yield in Western Oregon

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Influence of Log Truck Traffic and Road Hydrology on Sediment Yield in Western Oregon AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Rebecca H. Miller for the degree of Master of Science in Water Resources Engineering presented on June 11, 2014. Title: Influence of Log Truck Traffic and Road Hydrology on Sediment Yield in Western Oregon. Abstract approved: ______________________________________________________ Arne E. Skaugset III An understanding of the factors that influence surface erosion from roads is necessary to prevent and mitigate sediment production from forest roads. This study investigated the impacts of log truck traffic and road hydrology on sediment yield from ten forest road segments in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains of western Oregon. The hydrology of individual road segments was classified as either “ephemeral” or “intermittent.” Ephemeral hydrology occurs when Hortonian overland flow from the road surface is the primary source of runoff. Intermittent hydrology occurs when subsurface flow from the adjacent hillslope is intercepted by the road ditch and is a significant component of the road runoff. Data for sediment yield calculations were collected using a Turbidity Threshold Sampling (TTS) system that used in situ measurements of turbidity and discharge to calculate runoff and sediment yield for each road segment. A linear mixed effects model was fit to log transformed estimates of sediment yield. Storm runoff volumes and log truck traffic were significant predictors of median sediment yield (t=17.05, DF=148, p<0.001). Road segments with ephemeral hydrology were more erosive than road segments with intermittent hydrology and produced more sediment per unit of runoff volume (t = -2.8, DF=148, p=0.006). However, roads with intermittent hydrology produced more runoff per mm of precipitation during a storm. Sediment yield increased by a median value of 3.3 times when truck traffic occurred on the road segment during the week prior to the storm (p=0.003, 95% CI: 1.93- 4.69 times increase). This increase occurred irrespective of the type of hydrology of the road segment. The two road segments that produced the most sediment were a road segment with ephemeral hydrology and one with intermittent hydrology but, both were located on the heavily traveled Hinkle Creek Mainline Road. There was high variability in sediment yield among road segments and between storms. Sediment yield from an individual road segment, normalized by precipitation, ranged between 0.002 and 0.520 kg/mm. Sediment production occurred rapidly in response to precipitation, among all sites. Over ninety percent of sediment production occurred during storms. Physical attributes of the road segments such as road length and slope, that were previously reported to explain the variability in sediment yield, did not explain the variability in sediment yield in this study. The variability in sediment yield was best explained by storm runoff volume and the occurrence of log truck traffic. The results from this study indicate that to identify individual road segments with the greatest potential to produce sediment requires knowledge of the hydrology of the road segment and its exposure to log truck traffic. ©Copyright by Rebecca Miller June 11, 2014 All Rights Reserved Influence of Log Truck Traffic and Road Hydrology on Sediment Yield in Western Oregon by Rebecca H. Miller A THESIS submitted to Oregon State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Presented June 11, 2014 Commencement June 2015 Master of Science thesis of Rebecca H. Miller presented on June 11, 2014 APPROVED: Major Professor, representing Water Resources Engineering Director of the Water Resources Graduate Program Dean of the Graduate School I understand that my thesis will become part of the permanent collection of Oregon State University libraries. My signature below authorizes release of my thesis to any reader upon request. Rebecca H. Miller, Author ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The creation of this work would not have been possible without the support, inspiration and tireless efforts of several people who deserve to be recognized as outstanding individuals with whom I have the honor of knowing. At the top of my list is my major professor, Arne Skaugset, who gave me the opportunity to work on this project. I don’t think I could have asked for a better mentor. Arne provided me with guidance but also allowed me to explore the project on my own terms, a responsibility that has helped establish my confidence as an engineer and scientist. He has always welcomed my questions and has freely given insight on forestry, hydrology and life outside of academia, for which I will always be grateful. Invaluable to the execution of this project was Alex Irving, who helped with the design process, site selection and installation, and who has consistently ensured that data collection followed a rigorous and quality controlled approach. Amy Simmons has been a tremendous help in learning how to reduce data and trouble shoot equipment. Ariel Muldoon assisted in statistical design and interpretation, and was wonderful in making sure assumptions were understood and followed. Melissa Bronson has helped coordinate research efforts with Roseburg Forest Products and has assisted in providing data necessary for this project’s completion. I would also like to thank my graduate committee including Ben Leshchinsky, Maria Dragila, and Robert Wheatcroft, for dedicating their time to assist with this project and help me further my education. Finally, I would be amiss if not giving a special recognition to my husband, Rudy, who has unbegrudgingly always been a soundboard to my ideas and with whom I have had the pleasure of getting to navigate the world of graduate school (and life) with. I truly appreciate all of your help. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Chapter 1 Introduction and objectives ..........................................................................1 1.1 Introduction .........................................................................................................1 1.2 Study Objectives .................................................................................................2 Chapter 2 Literature Review .........................................................................................3 2.1 Sediment from Forest Roads ...............................................................................3 2.2 Sources of Sediment ............................................................................................4 2.3 Factors that Increase Erosion ..............................................................................5 2.4 Methods for Quanitfying Sediment Yield .........................................................14 2.5 Road Segment Hydrology .................................................................................16 Chapter 3 Methods .......................................................................................................17 3.1 Study Area Description .....................................................................................17 3.2 Data Collection..................................................................................................19 3.3 Data Reduction .................................................................................................26 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Page 3.4 Summary and Example of Data Reduction Process ...............................................30 3.4 Data Analysis .........................................................................................................35 Chapter 4 Results ...............................................................................................................37 4.1 Road Segment Characteristics.................................................................................37 4.2 Runoff and Sediment Yield from Road Segements ................................................49 4.3 Frequency Distribution............................................................................................53 4.4 Linear Mixed Effects Model ...................................................................................55 Chapter 5 Discussion .........................................................................................................60 5.1 Study Limitations and Assumptions .......................................................................60 5.2 Explaining Variability and Comparison to Previous Work ....................................62 5.3 Timing of Sediment Production ..............................................................................66 5.4 Road Hydrology ......................................................................................................68 5.5 The Role of Traffic..................................................................................................69 5.6 Identifying Sources of Sediment .............................................................................70 Chapter 6 Conclusions .......................................................................................................72 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Page Chapter 7 Bibliography ......................................................................................................74 Appendices .........................................................................................................................80 A - Suspended Sediment Concentration and Turbidity Curves ....................................81 B - Validation of Statistical Assumptions .....................................................................86
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