To determine the impact of gravel removal over time and the regenera- 

 tive capacity of various types of streams, it was necessary to observe 

 sites that were active during different years. Information was not available 

 for sites associated with construction activity early in this century, 

 but was for sites ranging back to the late I950's. 



Specific descriptions of the regional characteristics, physical site 

 characteristics, and characteristics of the gravel removal operation at 

 the 25 study sites occur in a subsequent section. 



DATA REVIEW 



Available information regarding the effects of gravel removal and 

 other similar disturbances in floodplains was reviewed. Information was 

 solicited from many Federal and most State agencies, from various Canadian 

 groups, and from literature sources. Due to a minimum of information on 

 the effects of gravel removal, particularly in arctic and subarctic re- 

 gions, some of the processes involved had to be discussed from a theoretical 

 standpoi nt . 



The results of this work were included in a Preliminary Report prepared 

 in 1976 (Woodward-Clyde Consultants 1976). This report should be referred to 

 if a review of available literature is desired. 



FIELD STUDY OF SELECTED MATERIAL SITES 



Preparation for the field program began in Spring 1976 and the last 

 site was visited in March 1979. Site visits were split over three summers 

 with 7 sites studied in 1976, 10 sites in 1977, and 8 sites in 1978. In 

 addition, seven sites were visited during the winters of 1977-1978 and 

 1978-1979 to determine the presence or absence of fish, to record water 

 quality parameters, and to describe the occurrence of icing conditions. 



During the 1976 field program field teams representing River Hydrology 

 and Hydraulics, Aquatic Biology, and Terrestrial Ecology worked each site 



17 



