Restoration of Floodplain Forests in Coastal River Valleys of the Pacific Northwest
December 18, 2024
12:00PM – 1:00PM PT
Coastal Pacific Northwest floodplain forests–and the aquatic and riparian ecological processes they support–have been, in large part, decimated by industrial logging in the 19th and 20th Centuries leaving a legacy of greatly diminished aquatic and riparian forest habitats. However, we have living examples of uncut young, mature and old-growth floodplain forests along the coastal rivers of Olympic National Park, Washington State. These old growth river valley forests serve as a guide for the restoration of floodplain forest pattern and critical aquatic and riparian forest ecological processes.
I will present select findings from the extensive forest research examining old growth floodplain forest pattern and process in the Pacific Northwest illustrating how these elements guide restorative silvicultural designs. Finally, I will present preliminary results from the Upper Quinault River floodplain forest restoration program being implemented by the Quinault Indian Nation. These ecologically based silvicultural design findings and principles are applicable to floodplain forest restoration efforts throughout the coastal Pacific Northwest.
Dr. Kevin Fetherston is a forest and wetland ecologist with 38 years of experience designing and implementing forest and wetland restoration projects. After completing his bachelor’s degree in biology at Boston University, Kevin earned his Master’s Degree in Forest Science at the Harvard Forest, Harvard University. He then apprenticed for four years with pioneering wetland restorationist Dr. Ed Garbisch, learning the art and science of riverine and estuarine restoration in the mid-Atlantic region.
Kevin completed his PhD in forest ecosystem analysis at University of Washington. Kevin’s focus was on the interaction of rivers and floodplain forests in generating river valley forest patterns in Olympic National Park. Kevin is a Professional Wetland Scientist, Society of Wetland Scientists. He currently works at Natural Systems Design in Seattle, WA.