Research

As an Instructor for the Forest Engineering Department of Oregon State University, I am currently the principle investigator for two research projects.

I am the P.I. for a Center For Wood Utilization Research project "Managing Landslide-Prone Terrain: The effect of spatial and temporal variability of precipitation intensity on forest road drainage design and slope stability analysis". The project has a budget of approximately $45.000 per year and is scheduled to be completed in FY 1996.

I am the P.I. for a Fundamental COPE research project "Slope Stability Synthesis Project". It is a $40,000, two year project also scheduled to be completed in FY 1996.

As the Soils/Hydrology scientist for the Adaptive COPE team, I have administrative responsibility for six research projects. Two of the projects are slope stability related, one project is a large, integrated research project on active riparian zone management, and three of the projects are fisheries related.

Both of the slope stability projects were initiated by me as a part of the Adaptive COPE research program.

The project "Modeling root reinforcement in shallow forest soils" is my dissertation research topic. This project is near completion and is scheduled to be completed early in FY '95.

The project "Stability Assessment of End Haul Disposal Areas" is currently being completed as part of a master's program for a Forest Engineering graduate student. Marvin R. Pyles is a co-investigator for the project and the major professor of the graduate student. Project completion is expected by the end of FY '95.

Tom McMahon, the Adaptive COPE Fisheries scientist, initiated all three of the fisheries/large woody debris research projects. Tom resigned from Adaptive COPE in November 1990. Due to budget considerations, Tom's position was not refilled and administrative responsibility for these three research projects was turned over to me.

In addition to project administrator, I am also the principle investigator of the research project "The effect of debris piece size and orientation on aquatic habitat." This is a long-term project investigating the effect of large woody debris piece size and orientation on the amount and quality of physical aquatic habitat. This project is scheduled to continue until the end of Adaptive COPE in 1998.

The research project "The Role and Management of Large Woody Debris for Fish Habitat in Coast Range Streams" is a synthesis of large woody debris inventories for a cross section of Oregon Coast Range streams managed by different land management entities. The project is complete and a draft final report has been written. The final report is currently in preparation.

The research project "Long-term Response of Resident Cutthroat Trout to Forest Harvest in Headwater Drainages of Oregon's Coast Range" is being completed as a PH.D. project for a graduate student in the Fisheries and Wildlife Department at OSU. Adaptive COPE is providing logistical and financial support. This project is scheduled to be completed by the end of FY '95.

Just recently, I initiated a large, integrated, demonstration area research project investigating active management in Coast Range riparian areas. Co-investigators in the project include Mike Newton, with a CRAFTS special project, and Loren Kellogg, with a Fundamental COPE project. Mike Newton is doing research on riparian silviculture. Loren Kellogg is studying logging engineering for alternative harvest systems. Adaptive COPE is doing research on adding structure to debris-poor streams to enhance existing aquatic habitat using skyline yarding equipment during the harvesting process. Project title: Integrated Response of Multiple Forest Resources to Active Management in Riparian Zones of the Oregon Coast Range.

My masters project involved proposal development, fieldwork, data reduction and analysis, and thesis preparation and presentation. Thesis topic: "Fine Organic Debris and Dissolved Oxygen in Streambed Gravels in the Oregon Coast Range".