Researchers report evidence of bedrock river erosion coincident with early 20th-century timber harvesting in a river basin in the state of Washington in the United States, suggesting that forestry practices, particularly splash-damming, which reduces river sediment retention, led to increased bedrock erosion that drastically reduced floodplain areas, and that brief periods of human activity can have long-lasting impacts on the landscape.
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Article #18-14627: "Anthropogenic strath terrace formation caused by reduced sediment retention," by Sarah A. Schanz, David R. Montgomery, and Brian D. Collins.
MEDIA CONTACT: Sarah A. Schanz, Indiana University Bloomington, IN; tel: 360-304-8665; e-mail: < saschanz@iu.edu >
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences