Large Woody Debris in the Snowy River Estuary, Australia

Jon Hinwood & Errol McLean

Department of Mechanical Engineering School of Earth & Environmental Sciences

Monash University, Melbourne University of Wollongong, Wollongong
Australia Australia
 Australian Geographic Magazine

moving down the Snowy river

the estuary – wider & deeper than the river, with wind, waves and tides
 logs lifted by
tides & waves

stranded
by floods

logs lifted by
tides & waves
 Brown Stringybark (Eucalyptus baxteri) Red Stringybark (Eucalyptus macrorhyncha)

Coast Banksia (Banksia integrifolia) Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans)

Frequency of occurrence of tree species – Snowy river Estuary 2006
Tree type - Section 2

Upper Snowy
Tree Estuary
type - Section 1 Lower Snowy
TreeEstuary
type - Section 2
Unknown
red stringybark

Unknown
brown stringybark
Unknown
red stringybark Unknown
red Stringybark
stringybark
brown stringybark brown stringybark
acacia wattle
Unknown Stringybark Unknown Stringybark
acacia wattle acacia acacia wattle
acacia acacia
pine
pine pine
sallow wattle sallow wattle
sallow wattle
messmate stringybark messmate stringybark
messmate stringybark
Forest red gum Forest red gum
eucalyptus unknown Forest red gum unknown
eucalyptus
Mountain ash Mountain ash
eucalyptus unknown
Mountain ash
Data collected
Census each September 2003-2008
Source area scan 2006
Tracking experiments 2007-2010
Census data:
Quantitative data:
• Location of the LWD (GPS).
• Angle of the LWD to the flow direction.
• Length of the LWD.
• Largest diameter of the LWD.
• Mean diameter of the LWD.
• Depth and location of scour/deposition.
Data collected
Census each September 2003-2008
Source area scan 2006
Tracking experiments 2007-2010
Census data:
Quantitative data:
• Location of the LWD (GPS).
• Angle of the LWD to the flow direction.
• Length of the LWD.
• Largest diameter of the LWD.
• Mean diameter of the LWD.
• Depth and location of scour/deposition.

Qualitative Data:
• Origin of the LWD
• Type (root ball, whole tree, etc)
• Log jams
• Degree of impregnation & submergence
• State of decay & weathering
• Morphological effects
 2004
2006
2007 (not Brodribb)

Lake
Corringle Brodribb River

Marlo
Drought 2001-2010
Lagoon
Entrance nearly closed 2004
Bushfire prior to 2006
Major flood June 2007 Pacific Ocean
LWD density distribution September 2008
Brodribb not surveyed

Brodribb River
Changes in LWD density distribution
Scale for weathering and decay (part)
Weathering & decay as indicators of passage through the estuary
semi- fresh
weathered
weathered

Input from catchment Input by man

after wind storm after wind storm
Fresh

Semi-weathered

Input via river Input by man

Weathered
Geomorphic effects – local but durable

Bank accretion

Bank scour
Conclusions
Sources and travel:
• LWD is much sparser in the estuary than the river
• Riparian trees are a major source of estuarine LWD, falling naturally or cut down
• Strong winds and bushfires increase supply significantly
• LWD stranded by floods may remain for years, large logs for decades
• LWD is lost to sea from the estuary by freshes and floods
• Wave , wind and tide are effective in stranding LWD mainly along banks
Conclusions
Sources and travel:
• LWD is much sparser in the estuary than the river
• Riparian trees are a major source of estuarine LWD, falling naturally or cut down
• Strong winds and bushfires increase supply significantly
• LWD stranded by floods may remain for years, large logs for decades
• LWD is lost to sea from the estuary by freshes and floods
• Wave , wind and tide are effective in stranding LWD mainly along banks

Effects of LWD in the estuary:

• LWD is predominantly parallel to the shore and in contact with the shore
• LWD generally promotes minor bank accretion
• LWD does not have a significant effect on the hydraulics or sediment transport
• LWD, particularly if not shore-parallel, promotes localised scour under and at its
offshore end, these holes and shelter are potential fish and crustacean habitat
• LWD provides roosting and nesting sites for birds
Conclusions
Sources and travel:
• LWD is much sparser in the estuary than the river
• Riparian trees are a major source of estuarine LWD, falling naturally or cut down
• Strong winds and bushfires increase supply significantly
• LWD stranded by floods may remain for years, large logs for decades
• LWD is lost to sea from the estuary by freshes and floods
• Wave , wind and tide are effective in stranding LWD mainly along banks

Effects of LWD in the estuary:

• LWD is predominantly parallel to the shore and in contact with the shore
• LWD generally promotes minor bank accretion
• LWD does not have a significant effect on the hydraulics or sediment transport
• LWD, particularly if not shore-parallel, promotes localised scour under and at its
offshore end, these holes and shelter are potential fish and crustacean habitat
• LWD provides roosting and nesting sites for birds

Sampling LWD in the estuary:

• The sparse but clumped distribution required intensive sampling
• Use of a photo guide and training session are essential to ensure consistency