Document Type
Thesis
Date of Degree Completion
Spring 1999
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Resource Management
Committee Chair
Morris Uebelacker
Second Committee Member
Lisa Ely
Third Committee Member
Douglas N. Reynolds
Abstract
Satus Creek provides critical habitat for the Yakima River Basin steelhead. A diverse community of riparian vegetation is important for healthy fish habitat; vegetation changes can affect shade, cover, channel structure, water quality, and food availability. The purpose of this thesis is to analyze and illustrate riparian vegetation change, both temporally and spatially, along three separate reaches of Satus Creek. A Geographic Information Systems approach was applied to assess the vegetation change by comparing plant species composition and density on 1949 and 1995 aerial photographs. The GIS approach allowed patterns and trends in the vegetation to be identified. In less than fifty years, a significant shift from woody to herbaceous species has occurred. Black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) population size has decreased and white alder (Alnus rhombifolia) population size has increased. This thesis links these and other vegetation patterns occurring along Satus Creek to land use practices in the watershed.
Recommended Citation
Gellenbeck, Kathryn, "A Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Riparian Vegetation along Satus Creek on the Yakama Indian Reservation" (1999). All Master's Theses. 1786.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/1786
Included in
Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons, Environmental Monitoring Commons, Fresh Water Studies Commons, Geographic Information Sciences Commons, Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons, Water Resource Management Commons