OWUSU-ADJEI, JOSEPH. M.A. Characteristics of Coarse Woody Debris and its

Coarse woody debris (CWD) is important in many contemporary vegetated stream channel systems yet little is known about the dynamics and characteristics of CWD and its impact on streambed process and structure in urban environments. A survey of CWD entailing measurements of length, diameter, wood volume, orientation to flow, and debris dam/jams locations was conducted along North Buffalo Creek in Greensboro, NC. CWD characteristics were found to have some relation to the frequency of debris jams, proportion of pools formed by wood, and variation of bankfull channel width. The frequency of debris jams increased downstream. The downstream increase in debris jams is a function of reach-to-reach transport of CWD primarily by floodwaters, and the availability of new debris input from riparian vegetation. Stream reaches bordered by partially wooded land have the same or slightly lower average length of CWD and debris jam frequency. Most CWD pieces were oriented parallel to the stream channel. The proportion of pools formed by woody debris is low as compared to rural and forested streams. Local changes in streambed processes and structure occurred in all debris jam locations and stable CWD sections. CHARACTERISTICS OF COARSE WOODY DEBRIS AND ITS IMPAC