Steve Taylor, Earth and Physical Sciences, Western Oregon University
Start
End

•
To engage team building in the context of outdoor adventure and experiential education
•
To acquire knowledge of the regional geologic, hydrologic, and geomorphic setting of western
Oregon
•
To apply spatial and temporal scaling concepts to watershed systems
•
To develop skills in field-based observation, data collection, analysis, and hypothesis testing
•
To gain experience with techniques of landscape analysis and interpretation of the geologic record

To
HJA
EISI Float
Location of dams
Ochoco
Mtns
•
Ad = 26,860 sq. km
•
N-S length ~ 300 km
•
3 hydroelectric dams
•
John Day Basin to east
•
Cascades to west
•
Geology
 John Day and Clarno Forma-
 tions (55-20 m.y. old)
Columbia River Basalts
(17-14 m.y.)
 Deschutes Fm volcanics
(10-2 m.y.)
 Pleistocene and Holocene surficial deposits (< 1 m.y.)
•
Avg. rainfall < 1000 mm
•
Semi-Arid
•
Avg. Runoff = 0.19 m
•
Q range: 124-213 cms

Pacific Northwest Climate and Tectonics:
Linked System Drivers
“Wet”
Westerly cyclonic storm systems
“Dry”
Deschutes
HJA

Field Trip Content
•
Regional physiography of Cascades and central Oregon
•
Geology, geomorphology and hydrology of Deschutes Basin
•
Introduction to geologic observation and landscape analysis
•
Fundamental principles of hydrology and geomorphology
•
Fundamentals of fisheries, riparian habitat, watershed assessment, and river restoration
Participant Deliverables And Assessment
•
Pre-trip reading questions
•
Active learning assignments
•
Post-trip reflection paper
•
Smiles, laughter, fun, friends, adventurous stories to tell

LOGISTICS
•
Travel HJA to Trout Creek, Sunday, June 21, PM
•
3 nights camping; 2.5 days rafting, ~55 river miles
•
Field support: river guides, paddle boats, bag boats
•
Food: 3-a-day provided except for Trout Ck. Camp
•
Camp kitchen and staff cooks provided
•
Extra group coolers, snacks, specialty items = CYA
•
Personal gear stowed in dry bags / on bag boats
•
Tent teams encouraged
•
Dry and sunny, rain possible, cold water, WIND
•
Prepare for sunburn, dehydration, prickly vegetation
•
Other stuff: water shoes / river sandals, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, tent, flashlight, closed shoes for hiking, swimming / fly fishing, towel, soap/shampoo, river baths

INTRODUCTION TO WATERSHEDS AND RIVERS
Energy Sources in the
Fluvial System
Gravitational
Solar (Climate)
Geothermal (Tectonics)
Work of the
Fluvial System
Transfer of Energy
Transfer of Mass
Water
Sediment
Rafting People

(Tectonics)
The physical work of rivers: transport sediment and water
Ecological services and riparian habitat

“Hey Taylor – note to self…now’s the time to show the video clip illustrating hillslope-valley bottom process-response mechanisms and the interaction between variables, including human impacts from geomorphic change…”
And now a message from our sponsor: kayakingsucks.com

…increasing the scale of this example…
Columbia River Gorge: Bridge of the Gods Landslide Complex
-Blocked river ca. 300 yrs ago
-Legacy effects on landscape

Landscape Analysis: Landform, Material, Process, Age
The record of past processes and tapestry of time…
Material: Sedimentary
Bedrock (Age = 20 m.y.)
Hillslope
Regime
Process:
Anthropogenic
Process: Alluvial
Transport
Valley-Bottom
Regime
Material: Angular Cobbles
(Age = 10,000 yr)
Process: Colluvial
Transport
Material: Gravel
(Age = 2000 yr)
Material: Igneous
Bedrock (Age = 100 m.y.)
Material: Unconsolidated
Sandy Gravel (Age = last winter)

Age of landscape features and rates of processes: the most elusive facets of study.
Geologically Relevant Time Scales: 10 -5 to 10 9 Years
(minutes-hours-days-years-thousands-hundreds of thousands-millions-billions of years)
Engineering Time Scales? 10 0 to 10 2 yrs (then build another one…)
Age of Landforms (Surfaces)
River Terrace
Age of Deposits (Terrace Deposits)
How long since these gravels were last transported by channel processes?

Synergistic extension to Eco-Informatics work at HJ Andrews
Experimental Forest, “the home of long-term watershed research in the Pacific Northwest”?… 2009 EISI campers, academic enlightenment is knocking at your door, seize the moment!
WS-10
684
Streamflow gaging stations
Spot elevations meters AMSL
Experimental watershed (WS)
OREGON
Rid ge
Ri ve r
B lu e
Lo ok ou t
549
Creek
WS-7
WS-6
WS-8
991
M cR ae
WS-9
427
WS-1
WS-3
WS-2
Carpenter
Mountain
1630
Cr ee k
1230
Linn County
Lane County
0 1 km
Lookou t
1347
Ridge
M ac k
Creek
1609
Lookout
Mountain
1312
1098
1568
Frissel
Point