Rylee Rawson ,

Thesis:

Characterizing Ecosystem Response to Stream Crossing Removal in Redwood National Park

Rylee's project explores the impact of restoration efforts in Redwood National and State Park (RNSP) on stream ecosystems. In the 1950s and 1960s, over half of RNSP was clear-cut, resulting in hundreds of miles of old logging and skid roads that have contributed to significant hillslope erosion and sediment pollution in streams. In some extreme cases, roads were constructed directly in stream beds, burying entire tributaries under 10 to 20 feet of sediment. To address these issues, the National Park Service, California State Parks, and Save the Redwoods League have partnered to restore the landscape through forest thinning and road removal. Rylee's project will assess how stream ecosystems recover after road fill is removed, providing insights into successional processes in headwater streams and informing future restoration efforts.

Shelley Mitchell, M.A.

Lecturer

Scott Nelson