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USGS1977

Summary of watershed conditions in the vicinity of Redwood National Park, California

The Redwood Creek Unit of Redwood National Park is located in the downstream end of an exceptionally rapidly eroding drainage basin. Spatial distribution and types of erosional landforms, observed in the field and on time-sequential aerial photographs, measured sediment loads, and the lithologic heterogeneity of streambed materials indicated (1) that sediment discharges reflect a complex suite of natural and man-induced mass movement and fluvial erosion processes operating on a geologically heterogeneous, naturally unstable terrain, and (2) that although infrequent exceptionally intense storms control the timing and general magnitude of major erosion events, the loci, types, and amounts of erosion occurring during those events are substantially influence by land use. Erosional impacts of past timber harvest in the Redwood Creek basin reflect primarily the cumulative impact of many small erosion problems caused not so much by removal. Recently modified riparian and aquatic environments reflect stream channel adjustments to recently increased water and sediment discharges, and are classified by the National Park Service as damaged resources because the modifications reflect, in part, unnatural causes. Newly strengthened State regulations and cooperative review procedures result in proposed timber harvest plans being tailored to specific site conditions, as well as smaller, more dispersed harvest units and more sophisticated attempts at minimizing ground-surface disruption than those used in most previous timber harvesting in this basin. However, application of improved timber harvest technology alone will not assure protection of park resources. Much remaining intact residual commercial old-growth timber is on hillslopes that are steeper, wetter, more susceptible to landsliding, and more nearly adjacent to major stream channels than most of the previously harvested hillslopes in the lower Redwood Creek basin. Moreover, natural debris barriers along streams flowing through remaining old-growth forest have temporarily stored substantial quantities of sediment introduced into streams by recent storms and upstream land-use changes. Removal of merchantable timber from these barriers may destroy their stability and cause rapid release of stored sediment. Additionally, massive erosion in some recently harvested areas suggest that they are so erosionally sensitive that following rehabilitation and reforestation, they should not be reharvested. Thus, in order to maintain site productivity and to protect downstream park resources, some erosionally critical areas may have to be maintained as perpetual timber reserves dedicated to watershed protection. Selective Federal acquisition of just erosionally critical acreage would create ownership patterns that would make management of both parklands and commercial timber lands exceedingly difficult.

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USGS1976

Redwood National Park studies; data release number 2, Redwood Creek, Humboldt County, and Mill Creek, Del Norte County, California, April 11, 1974-September 30, 1975

An interdisciplinary study has been undertaken in Redwood National Park, Calif., to describe parts of the ecosystems and recent changes in the intensity of erosion and sedimentation, define processes that may alter the natural ecosystems, and assess the impact of recent road construction and timber harvest. This report is the second of a series that will present data collected in this study. Stream-discharge and water-quality data were collected at 53 sampling stations in the Redwood Creek and Mill Creek drainage basins. Measurements included the following variables: Stream stage and discharge; turbidity; sediment; onsite water-quality determinations of temperature, pH , total alkalinity, specific conductance, and dissolved-oxxygen concentration; chemical analyses of water samples for major dissolved solids, selected trace elements, nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic carbon; chemical analyses of bottom sediment for organic carbon and pesticides; bacteria; benthic invertebrates; fish; periphyton; phytoplankton; and seston. Additional data include changes in geometry at 10 stream-channel cross sections along Mill Creek and the distribution of erosional landforms in the Mill Creek drainage basin; quantity and chemical composition of rainwater; and the intragravel-streambed condition at selected stations in the Redwood Creek drainage basin. (Woodard-USGS)

Open-File Report↗

USGS2011

Structure and dynamics of an upland old- growth forest at Redwood National Park, California

Many current redwood forest management targets are based on old-growth conditions, so it is critical that we understand the variability and range of conditions that constitute these forests. Here we present information on the structure and dynamics from six one-hectare forest monitoring plots in an upland old-growth forest at Redwood National Park, California. We surveyed all stems =20 cm DBH in 1995 and 2010, allowing us to estimate any systematic changes in these stands. Stem size distributions for all species and for redwood ( Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl.) alone did not appreciably change over the 15 year observation interval. Recruitment and mortality rates were roughly balanced, as were basal area dynamics (gains from recruitment and growth versus losses from mortality). Similar patterns were found for Sequoia alone. The spatial structure of stems at the plots suggested a random distribution of trees, though the pattern for Sequoia alone was found to be significantly clumped at small scales (< 5 m) at three of the six plots. These results suggest that these forests, including populations of Sequoia, have been generally stable over the past 15 years at this site, though it is possible that fire exclusion may be affecting recruitment of smaller Sequoia (< 20 cm DBH). The non-uniform spatial arrangement of stems also suggests that restoration prescriptions for second-growth redwood forests that encourage uniform spatial arrangements do not appear to mimic current upland old-growth conditions.

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USGS2017

Growth of coast redwood and Douglas-fir following thinning in second-growth forests at Redwood National Park and Headwaters Forest Reserve

Managers of second-growth forests at Redwood National Park and the Bureau of Land Management’s Headwaters Forest Reserve encourage the development of late seral forest characteristics using mechanical thinning, where competing vegetation is removed to promote growth of residual trees. Yet the ability to quantify and reliably predict outcomes of treatments such as these is hindered by the long time scales at which forests respond to thinning. Here we present analyses of tree growth at Redwood National Park (RNP) and Headwaters Forest Reserve (HDWT) from sites that have had > 5 years to respond to thinning treatments. Compared to untreated stands, thinned stands had lower stem density (trees ha -1 ) and basal area (m 2 ha -1 ), primarily due to removal of Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco). Individual tree growth (basal area increment, BAI, m 2 yr -1 ) was related to tree size (basal area, m 2 ) and treatment history, with the highest growth rates observed in large trees. Both redwood ( Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl.) and Douglas-fir appeared to have a small, but detectable, positive growth response to thinning treatments. Early results suggest a large degree of variation among sites, with possible systematic differences in growth responses between RNP and HDWT. Future work will focus on identifying site-level differences (site quality, local competition, slope, aspect, stand age, distance from the ocean) to improve our understanding of the growth response.

Redwood National Park and Headwaters Forest Reserv↗

USGS2017

Forest restoration at Redwood National Park: exploring prescribed fire alternatives to second-growth management: a case study

Almost half of Redwood National Park is comprised of second-growth forests characterized by high stand density, deficient redwood composition, and low understory biodiversity. Typical structure of young redwood stands impedes the recovery of old-growth conditions, such as dominance of redwood (Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl.), distinct canopy layers and diverse understory vegetation. Young forests are commonly comprised of dense, even-aged Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) and redwood stump sprouts, with simple canopy structure and little understory development. Moreover, many of these young stands are believed to be vulnerable to disturbance in the form of drought, disease and fire. Silvicultural practices are increasingly being employed by conservation agencies to restore degraded forests throughout the coast redwood range; however, prescribed fire treatments are less common and potentially under-utilized as a restoration tool. We present an early synthesis from three separate management-scale prescribed fire projects at Redwood National Park spanning 1to 7 years post-treatment. Low intensity prescribed fire had minimal effect on overstory structure, with some mortality observed in trees smaller than 30 cm diameter. Moderate to high intensity fire may be required to reduce densities of larger Douglas-fir, the primary competitor of redwood in the Park’s second growth forests. Fine woody surface fuels fully recovered by 7 years post-burn, while recruitment of larger surface fuels was quite variable. Managers of coastal redwood ecosystems will benefit by having a variety of tools at their disposal for forest restoration and management.

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USGS2017

Forest restoration at Redwood National Park: Exploring prescribed fire alternatives to second-growth management: A case study

Almost half of Redwood National Park is comprised of second-growth forests characterized by high stand density, deficient redwood composition, and low understory biodiversity. Typical structure of young redwood stands impedes the recovery of old-growth conditions, such as dominance of redwood ( Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl.), distinct canopy layers and diverse understory vegetation. Young forests are commonly comprised of dense, even-aged Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) and redwood stump sprouts, with simple canopy structure and little understory development. Moreover, many of these young stands are believed to be vulnerable to disturbance in the form of drought, disease and fire. Silvicultural practices are increasingly being employed by conservation agencies to restore degraded forests throughout the coast redwood range; however, prescribed fire treatments are less common and potentially under-utilized as a restoration tool. We present an early synthesis from three separate management-scale prescribed fire projects at Redwood National Park spanning 1to 7 years post-treatment. Low intensity prescribed fire had minimal effect on overstory structure, with some mortality observed in trees smaller than 30 cm diameter. Moderate to high intensity fire may be required to reduce densities of larger Douglas-fir, the primary competitor of redwood in the Park’s second growth forests. Fine woody surface fuels fully recovered by 7 years post-burn, while recruitment of larger surface fuels was quite variable. Managers of coastal redwood ecosystems will benefit by having a variety of tools at their disposal for forest restoration and management.

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USGS2016

Does water chemistry limit the distribution of New Zealand mud snails in Redwood National Park?

New Zealand mud snails (NZMS) are exotic mollusks present in many waterways of the western United States. In 2009, NZMS were detected in Redwood Creek in Redwood National Park, CA. Although NZMS are noted for their ability to rapidly increase in abundance and colonize new areas, after more than 5 years in Redwood Creek, their distribution remains limited to a ca. 300 m reach. Recent literature suggests that low specific conductivity and environmental calcium can limit NZMS distribution. We conducted laboratory experiments, exposing NZMS collected from Redwood Creek to both natural waters and artificial treatment solutions, to determine if low conductivity and calcium concentration limit the distribution of NZMS in Redwood National Park. For natural water exposures, we held NZMS in water from their source location (conductivity 135 μS/cm, calcium 13 mg/L) or water from four other locations in the Redwood Creek watershed encompassing a range of conductivity (77–158 μS/cm) and calcium concentration (<5–13 mg/L). For exposures in treatment solutions, we manipulated both conductivity (range 20–200 μS/cm) and calcium concentration (range <5–17.5 mg/L) in a factorial design. Response variables measured included mortality and reproductive output. Adult NZMS survived for long periods (>4 months) in the lowest conductivity waters from Redwood Creek and all but the lowest-conductivity treatment solutions, regardless of calcium concentration. However, reproductive output was very low in all natural waters and all low-calcium treatment solutions. Our results suggest that water chemistry may inhibit the spread of NZMS in Redwood National Park by reducing their reproductive output.

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USGS2017

Low thinning and crown thinning of two severities as restoration tools at Redwood National Park

Interest in the restoration of second-growth forests has continued to increase in the redwood region, which has further increased the importance of evaluating restoration-based silvicultural strategies. This study assessed the short-term effectiveness of four silvicultural treatments (two silvicultural thinning methods, low thinning and crown thinning, and two basal area retentions, 80 percent and 45 percent) as forest restoration tools via analysis of relative basal area growth at Redwood National Park. Prior to treatment, the second-growth stand had more than 1,600 trees ha -1 and 70.0 m 2 ha -1 basal area and consisted primarily of two species, Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) (the dominant species) and redwood ( Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl.). Growth was enhanced for all treatments with 5-year net basal area gains of 28.4 percent for the lowretention crown thinning, 28.1 percent for the low-retention low thinning, 23.3 percent for the high-retention crown thinning, 19.1 percent for high-retention low thinning, and only 14.2 percent for the control. We conclude that all four thinning treatments improved tree growth; but among them, the low-retention treatments were most effective in accomplishing restoration objectives, while the high-retention low thinning was least effective. Increasing the array of silvicultural tools that Redwood National Park can use may prove helpful in accomplishing restoration goals in future projects.

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USGS1988

Determining baseline element composition of lichens. II. Hypogymnia enteromorpha and Usnea spp. at Redwood National Park, California

Hypogymnia enteromorpha and Usnea spp. were collected in the Little Bald Hills ultramafic region of Redwood National Park, California, to establish element-concentration norms. Baselines are presented for Ba, Ca, Cu, Mn, Ni, P, Sr, V, and Zn for both lichen species; for Li, Mg, and K for H. enteromorpha ; and for Al, Ce, Cr, Co, Fe, Na, and Ti for Usnea . Element concentrations of future collections of this same material can be used to monitor possible air quality changes anticipated from mining activities planned nearby. The variability in the element concentrations was partitioned between geographical distance increments and sample preparation and analysis procedures. In general, most of this variability was found in samples less than a few hundreds of meters apart rather than those at about 1 km apart. Therefore, except for Ba and Co, no large geographical element-concentration trends were observed. Samples of both species contained elevated levels of Ni and Mg, which probably reflect the ultramafic terrain over which they occur.

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USGS1978

Water chemistry of the Redwood Creek and Mill Creek basins, Redwood National Park, Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, California

A 2-year study was made in the Redwood Creek and Mill Creek drainage basins of Redwood National Park to determine existing chemical water-quality conditions and to identify the effects of logging on water quality in the main stems and tributaries of the two basins. Overall, the chemical water quality of the main stems and the tributaries is excellent, suitable for most beneficial uses. Dissolved-solids concentrations range from 25 milligrams per liter in the Redwood Creek basin and 21 milligrams per liter in the Mill Creek basin during the rainy season to 139 and 49 during the dry season. Water shifts from a mixed calcium-sodium bicarbonate-chloride type toward a calcium bicarbonate type from the end of the wet season to the end of the dry season. It shifts back toward a mixed calcium-sodium bicarbonate-chloride type from the end of the dry season to the end of the wet season. The pH shifts with the water type from a median value of 6.80 in the rainy season to 7.37 in the dry season. Nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations are generally too low to support nuisance algae but are high enough, in some streams, to support modest populations, particularly in the main stem where light levels are high. Trace-metal concentrations are low, typical of clean streams. Evidence suggests that dissolved calcium and bicarbonate in stream water is produced by weathering of the Franciscan assemblage underlying the basins but that chlorides are transported inland from the ocean as dry fallout and spray and in rain. Exposure of the surface soils to the elements, either by logging or by natural causes such as sparse vegetation, seems to accelerate weathering, which leads to a calcium bicarbonate water type. Logging accelerates weathering most in the tributary watersheds with regoliths derived from sandstone and least in those with regoliths derived from schist; however, the data suggest that the rate of weathering in a schistose watershed can increase dramatically if soil disruption is extensive. Studies during storms indicated that specific conductance and alkalinity were two to three times as likely to decrease at the discharge peak in logged watersheds as in forested ones. This suggests that overland flow containing lower concentrations of soil-derived dissolved solids than flow from other sources is a larger component of peak flow in logged watersheds than in forested watersheds. Comparing a storm in November 1974 to one in February 1975, nitrate concentration increased significantly from November to February in a stream draining a logged watershed and decreased significantly in a stream draining a forested watershed. Then from the rainy season to the dry season, nitrate decreased in both logged and forested watersheds. This pattern suggests that soil nitrate produced by fixation and organic decomposition early in the rainy season tends to wash out of logged watersheds but be taken up in tree growth in forested watersheds. As the dry season progresses, base flow containing little nitrate enters the streams, causing a decrease in nitrate concentration. By contrast, the other plant nutrients--phosphorus, Kjeldahl nitrogen, ammonium, and dissolved organic carbon--all decreased in streams from the November 1974 storm to the February 1975 storm and changed little from the rainy season through the dry season. This pattern suggests that these materials tend to accumulate in the soil during the dry season and be washed out and diluted as the rainy season progresses. Very little reaches the water table due to soil absorption so that little appears in the base flow during the dry season.

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USGS1981

Aquatic biology of the Redwood Creek and Mill Creek drainage basins, Redwood National Park, Humboldt and Del Norte counties, California

A 2-year study of the aquatic biota in the Redwood Creek and Mill Creek drainage basins of Redwood National Park indicated that the aquatic productivity is low. Densities of coliform bacteria were low except in Prairie Creek, a tributary to Redwood Creek, where a State park, county fish hatchery, grazing land, lumber mill, and scattered residential areas are potential sources of fecal coliform bacteria. Benthic invertebrate data indicated a diverse fauna which varied considerably between streams and among stream sections. Noteworthy findings include: (1) benthic invertebrates rapidly recolonized the streambed following a major storm, and (2) man-caused disruption or sedimentation of the streambed during low flow can result in drastic reductions of the benthic invertebrate community. Seven species of fish representing species typically found in northern California coastal streams were captured during the study. Nonparametric statistical tests indicate that condition factors of steelhead trout were significantly larger at sampling stations with more insolation, regardless of drainage basin land-use history. Periphyton and phytoplankton communities were diverse, variable in numbers, and dominated by diatoms. Seston concentrations were extremely variable between stations and at each station sampled. The seston is influenced seasonally by aquatic productivity at each station and amount of allochthonous material from the terrestrial ecosystem. Time-series analysis of some seston data indicated larger and sharper peak concentrations being flushed from the logged drainage basin than from the control drainage basin. (USGS)

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USGS1978

Potential potable-water supplies in Redwood National Park, California

An evaluation was made of the potential for potable-water supplies at 13 sites in or near Redwood National Park, Calif. The National Park Service is planning for the development of visitor facilities at these sites. At some sites, the report recommends using surface-water diversions. At other sites, locations are given for test-well drilling or springs are recommended for development. Chemical analyses of water are given for selected surface-water supplies and for some existing wells and springs. The chemical quality of the water is suitable at most of the sites, although concentrations of iron and chloride are excessively high in some areas.

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USGS2021

Patterns of conifer invasion following prescribed fire in grasslands and oak woodlands of Redwood National Park, California

The invasion, or “encroachment”, of native conifers commonly occurs in the absence of frequent fire in deciduous woodlands and grasslands of the Pacific Northwest, USA. To effectively target restoration activities, managers require a better understanding of the outcomes of prescribed fire and the spatial patterns of conifer invasions. We examined the duration of prescribed fire effectiveness for controlling conifer invasions, as well as multiple site characteristics (including distance to potential seed trees, prescribed fire history, and topographic variables) that influenced conifer invasions following fire in grassland and oak woodland communities in the Bald Hills of Redwood National Park, California. Prescribed fire substantially reduced counts of small conifers (< 0.91 m in height), but reinvasion was rapid for sites ≤75 m from the forest edge, returning to pre‐fire levels by 2 years post‐fire. Following prescribed fires the presence of conifers was largely determined by proximity of overstory trees, with more than 95% of conifer seedlings (stems <1.37 m in height) found within 44 m of an overstory conifer. Number of fires and years since the most recent fire were not strongly related to counts of conifer seedlings and density of conifer saplings (stems from 0.1 to 10 cm diameter at breast height, 1.37 m). Our results suggest that in the Bald Hills vulnerability to conifer invasion is principally a function of proximity to seed sources, and the frequent application of prescribed fire or surrogate treatments are needed to prevent conifer seedlings from attaining fire‐resistant sizes.

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USGS2017

Fisheries and aquatic resources of Prairie Creek, Redwood National Park

This report synthesizes information on the status of fisheries and aquatic resources in the Prairie Creek sub-basin of Redwood Creek in Humboldt County in northern California, founded on a bibliographic search we conducted of historic and current datasets, unpublished reports, theses, and publications. The compiled Prairie Creek Fisheries Bibliography is available at https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/. This report describes life histories and population status of the salmonid fishes, and species occurrence of non-salmonid fishes, amphibians, macroinvertebrates, and common benthic algae in Prairie Creek. We assessed habitat conditions that may limit salmonid production in relation to recovery targets established by the National Marine Fisheries Service and the State of California. Although salmon abundance has decreased from historic levels, production of juvenile salmonids in Prairie Creek is relatively stable and robust in comparison with the rest of the Redwood Creek Basin. Carrying capacity likely differs between the undisturbed upper reaches of Prairie Creek and reaches in the lower creek, the latter of which are affected by legacy impacts from timber and agricultural activities. Increased sediment supply and lack of channel structure and floodplain connection in lower Prairie Creek appear to be the greatest stressors to salmonid production. Existing datasets on aquatic resources and environmental variables are listed, and subject areas where few data are available are identified .

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USGS1975