Biology Commons^™

Riparian Understory Dynamics And Relationship To Dams On The Elwha River, Washington, Aaron J. Clausen

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

"Dams alter the dynamics inherent to river systems by displacing natural hydrologic and sediment regimes, which can fundamentally alter riparian ecosystem function. However, with better understanding of how dams negatively impact river systems, and as many dams approach the end of their lifespan, dam removal is being used to facilitate ecosystem restoration. Whereas researchers have successfully illustrated the negative impacts dams have on biological communities, the long-term ecological implications of dam removal are not well understood. At present, two dams are being removed along the Elwha River (Washington, USA), providing a valuable window for ecological studies concerning the effects of …