Area/Topic  |  Bibliography   |  Background   |  Hypotheses   |  Home


 
 

KRIS Russian River: Picture Page

Area Forsythe Creek
Topic Tour: West Fork Russian #2 Middle Reach and Rocky Creek
 

rr_jul_13_15_2003__101.jpg 231K  Click on image to enlarge (231K).

This photo was taken looking upstream on the West Fork Russian River with the convergence with Rocky Creek just out of sight upstream to the left. This pool contained steelhead trout of yearling size. Photo by Patrick Higgins. July 13, 2003.


rr_jul_13_15_2003__089.jpg 224K  Click on image to enlarge (224K).

This photo shows the the channel of the West Fork Russian River near its origin looking downstream at the same location as Picture #1. Bay and oak form a riparian canopy and semi-aquatic plants provide cover over the stream immediately next to the channel. This well established community of plants in the active channel suggests that there has not been overwhelming sediment over-supply and transport at this location. Photo by Patrick Higgins. July 13, 2003.


rr_jul_13_15_2003__098.jpg 186K  Click on image to enlarge (186K).

This photo shows the West Fork Russian River looking further downstream below Rocky Creek off Tomki Road at the same location as Pictures #1 & #2. The stream channel is more exposed here than in the narrow canyon reach further upstream and so more subject to warming. Oak and willow provide partial shade. Photo by Patrick Higgins. July 13, 2003.


rr_jul_13_15_2003__086.jpg 167K  Click on image to enlarge (167K).

This photo shows the upper West Fork Russian River riparian zone off Tomki Road, just above West Side Road. The riparian area has been disturbed here but is growing back with willow creating a primary canopy. Lack of secondary overstory here would contribute to stream warming. Arundo donax is established here at right just short of the bridge. Photo by Patrick Higgins. July 13, 2003.


rr_jul_13_15_2003__088.jpg 239K  Click on image to enlarge (239K).

This photo shows the riparian zone of the West Fork Russian River at the same location as Picture #4 but zoomed in on the non-native giant reed (Arundo Donax), which readily colonizes disturbed riparian zones. Photo by Patrick Higgins. July 13, 2003.


rr_jul_13_15_2003__096.jpg 249K  Click on image to enlarge (249K).

Pool looking downstream where Rocky Creek converges with the West Fork Russian River. Although little surface flow feeds the West Fork at this time of year, it is possible that cold subsurface water from its gravel bar cools the West Fork at the point of convergence, as is common in many northern California locals. Steelhead young of the year and yearlings were seen in the pool when photos were taken. Photo by Patrick Higgins. July 13, 2003. rr_jul_13_15_2003__097.jpg This photo shows a zoom in on West Fork Russian River pool at the convergence with Rocky Creek just off Tomki Road. Juvenile rainbow trout up to yearling size were seen in this pool. Photo by Patrick Higgins. July 13, 2003.


rr_july_13_2003_0190.jpg 169K  Click on image to enlarge (169K).

Rocky Creek looking upstream (west) off Tomki Road with flows dropping and algae forming in the active channel. Substrate appears coarse. Photo by Patrick Higgins. July 13, 2003.


rr_july_13_2003_0191.jpg 155K  Click on image to enlarge (155K).

This photo shows the riparian zone of Rocky Creek looking upstream off West Side Road, which has shrubs and oaks but also appears somewhat open just upstream. Photo by Patrick Higgins. July 13, 2003.




To learn more about this topic click Info Links
To view additional information (data source, aquisition date etc.) about this page, click Metadata
 
 
  www.krisweb.com