Geology topics

Research about Columbia Basin

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Columbia Basin.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2016

Identifying key climate and environmental factors affecting rates of post-fire big sagebrush ( Artemisia tridentata ) recovery in the northern Columbia Basin, USA

Sagebrush steppe of North America is considered highly imperilled, in part owing to increased fire frequency. Sagebrush ecosystems support numerous species, and it is important to understand those factors that affect rates of post-fire sagebrush recovery. We explored recovery of Wyoming big sagebrush ( Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis ) and basin big sagebrush ( A. tridentata ssp. tridentata ) communities following fire in the northern Columbia Basin (Washington, USA). We sampled plots across 16 fires that burned in big sagebrush communities from 5 to 28 years ago, and also sampled nearby unburned locations. Mixed-effects models demonstrated that density of large–mature big sagebrush plants and percentage cover of big sagebrush were higher with time since fire and in plots with more precipitation during the winter immediately following fire, but were lower when precipitation the next winter was higher than average, especially on soils with higher available water supply, and with greater post-fire mortality of mature big sagebrush plants. Bunchgrass cover 5 to 28 years after fire was predicted to be lower with higher cover of both shrubs and non-native herbaceous species, and only slightly higher with time. Post-fire recovery of big sagebrush in the northern Columbia Basin is a slow process that may require several decades on average, but faster recovery rates may occur under specific site and climate conditions.

Washington↗

USGS2007

Biotic soil crusts in relation to topography, cheatgrass, and fire in the Columbia Basin, Washington

We studied lichen and bryophyte soil crust communities in a large public grazing allotment within a sagebrush steppe ecosystem in which the biotic soil crusts are largely intact. The allotment had been rested from grazing for 12 years, but experienced an extensive series of wildfires. In the 350, 4 x 0.5 m plots, stratified by topographic position, we found 60 species or species groups that can be distinguished in the field with a hand lens, averaging 11.5 species groups per plot. Lichen and bryophyte soil crust communities differed among topographic positions. Draws were the most disturbed, apparently from water erosion in a narrow channel and mass wasting from the steepened sides. Presumably because of this disturbance, draws had the lowest average species richness of all the topographic strata we examined. Biotic crust species richness and cover were inversely related to cover of the invasive annual, cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), and positively related to cover of native bunchgrasses. Integrity of the biotic crust was more strongly related to cheatgrass than to fire. In general, we observed good recovery of crusts following fire, but only in those areas dominated by perennial bunchgrasses. We interpret the resilience of the biotic crust, in this case, to the low abundance of cheatgrass, low amounts of soil disturbance and high moss cover. These fires have not resulted in an explosion of the cheatgrass population, perhaps because of the historically low levels of livestock grazing.

Washington↗

USGS1983

Effects of heptachlor on American kestrels in the Columbia Basin, Oregon

Wheat seeds treated with heptachlor to control wireworms (Ctenicara pruinina) resulted in American kestrels (Falco sparverius) in the Columbia Basin accumulating residues of heptachlor epoxide (HE) that reduced productivity and caused some adult mortality. The kestrel is more sensitive to HE residues in eggs than the Canada goose (Branta canadensis moffitti), i.e., reduced productivity occurs at > 1.5 ppm in kestrel eggs vs. > 10 ppm in Canada goose eggs. Neither kestrel eggshells nor Canada goose eggshells were thinned by HE. The reduced use of heptachlor in 1979, because of a partial ban, resulted in an immediate lowering of HE concentrations in kestrel eggs the following year.

Oregon↗

USGS1981

Suspected Great Blue Heron population decline after a severe winter in the Columbia Basin

The wintering range of the Great Blue Heron ( Ardea herodias ) extends further north than does that of any other member of the Ciconiiformes in North America. The northern limits of its range extend along the Pacific coast into southeastern Alaska, into Massachusetts on the Atlantic coast, and inland into southern Montana (Palmer 1962). In the northern part of its range, severe winter weather may persist for weeks or months. Little information is available regarding either the response of individual Great Blue Herons to severe winters or the effects of these conditions on populations. In this paper, we report our observations on a small heron population in Oregon and Washington that was exposed to a severe winter.

Oregon, Washington↗

USGS1974

Digital-model study of ground-water hydrology, Columbia Basin Irrigation Project Area, Washington

Since 1952 water diverted from the Columbia River at Grand Coulee Dam has been used to irrigate parts of the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project area in eastern Washington, and as a result ground-water levels generally have risen in the area. The rapid increases in ground-water inflow, outflow, and storage from irrigation have created a need for a better understanding of the ground-water system before and after the start of irrigation to establish guidelines necessary for management of the area's ground-water resource. Data and information from previous geologic and hydrologic studies were used as a basis for quantitative analyses of ground-water inflow and outflow by means of digital computer models representing three major areas--Quincy Basin, Pasco Basin, and Royal Slope.

Washington↗