Unpaved forest roads as a source of suspended sediment in the Honna River watershed

The Honna River is the drinking water source for the Village of Queen Charlotte (pop. 950), and is also important salmon habitat. Sediment from unpaved forest roads near the river may be entering the channel in significant quantities. In a previous internship, intern David Reid implemented a channel reach-scale study of all sediment sources in the Honna River in an effort to determine the total volume of sediment contributed from the road, and also how this volume compares to natural sediment sources. The goal of the proposed internship is to complete the reach scale sediment budget by taking second measurements of channel profile to estimate bank erosion rates, and sediment storage in channel. The measurement of suspended sediment concentration and discharge has been ongoing, and will continue during this internship. Collected data will be analyzed to assess the impact of forest roads at the reach scale. Specifically, the effect of traffic will be examined, and the role of the timing of sediment input investigated. Results will be used to manage wet weather road use in the Honna River watershed, and will also fill research gaps related to reach-scale sediment input from roads to rivers.

Faculty Supervisor:

Dr. Marwan Hassan

Student:

David Reid

Partner:

Island Timberlands

Discipline:

Geography / Geology / Earth science

Sector:

Environmental industry

University:

University of British Columbia