Predictors of low instream wood abundance in Cretan steep streams

Our new paper demonstating the role of low tree density in riparian corridors on low abundance of instream wood in steep nonperennial streams was just published in Water Resources Research. Thus, the paper provides deeper understanding of recruitment and retention procecess of instream wood at the reach scale in vulnerable environment of Mediterranean semiarid landscapes, which was based on our detailled measurements in 37 independent channel reaches in Lefka Ori Mts., Crete, Greece. The parameter of elevation controlled mean annual percipitations, which in turn were reflected in the composition of riparian canopy along the steep mountain streams. It is also interesting that the mobilized wood tended to be stored as individual, dispersed pieces rather than in jams, likely due to overall low instream wood abundance which effectively prevented clustering of wood into large jams.

Deposited instream wood in the Kallikratis gorge. 

The study of river restoration potential of the Černá Ostravice River

Human interactions with mountain streams in Czech part of the flysch Western Carpathians has more than 100 years of history. These are represented by indirect impacts since the 16th century linked with an extensive changes in land use, and by direct human interventions connected with control works, check-dam constructions (e.g., due to timber floating, flood protection, sediment regime control). We finished project which was focused on potential restoration measures in the Černá Ostravice River basin in Moravskoslezské Beskydy Mts in Czech Republic. The project was realized in cooperation with the Union for the Morava River. The study proposes potential measures to improve hydromorphological and habitat conditions in the lower reach of the Černá Ostravice River. The main measures were aimed to increase stream connectivity for aquatic communities or sediment flux, increase morphological heterogeneity and occurrence of instream wood as element affected better stream habitat conditions and increase of water retention in floodplain.

Bank stabilization structures protecting road.

Regulated channel (partially due to timber floating).

Check-dam controlled longitudinal profile of the channel.