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Water transport potential

Last updated on January 23, 2023

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Water transport potential assessment

Assessing water transport potential helps to identify channels that will be disturbed if logged or if woody debris is left in the channel.

  • Disturbance: The erosion of channel banks and bed, woody debris jams, avulsions (breakouts), transport of woody debris into fish reaches

Slash movement

The following images show examples of slash movement.

Click on images to enlarge.

No slash movementImage of stream with debris and no slash movement. Click to enlarge.

No slash movementImage of stream with debris and no slash movement. Click to enlarge.

Little slash movement
Stream with logs and branches with little slash movement. Click to enlarge.

Little to moderate slash movement
Image of creek with branches and debris with little to moderate movement. Click to enlarge.

Moderate slash movement
Image of creek with logs and debris and moderate slash movement. Click to enlarge.

Moderate slash movement
Image of creek with logs and debris and moderate slash movement. Click to enlarge.

Extensive slash movement
Image of stream with logs and debris showing extensive slash movement. Click to enlarge.

Severe slash movement
Image of creek with extensive slash movement. Click to enlarge.

Severe slash movement
Image of creek with severe slash movement. Click to enlarge.

Severe slash movement
Image of creek with severe slash movement. Click to enlarge.

Previous assessment method

The following assessment method was used to predict water transport potential prior to these case studies.

Assessment method
Channel gradient (%) Channel cross-section area (m2)
channel width __ (m) x channel depth __ (m) = XS area (m2)
__ CG < 0.5 0.5 - < 2  2 - < 5 5 - < 8 8 - < 121
≥ 40 L M H H H
20 - < 40 L L M H H
8 - < 20 L L M M H
< 8 L L L M M

L: Low, M: Moderate, H: High

Slash in streams studies