Over the past decade, numerous intensive, large-scale riparian restoration projects focused on improving salmonid habitat have been established in the interior Pacific Northwest. In addition to in-stream restoration, these projects often include plantings of deciduous woody species in the riparian zone to increase shrub cover and shade. However, few studies have evaluated the factors that influence success of these enhancement plantings or their establishment and growth rates. Here we evaluate the effects of wild ungulate herbivory (elk, mule deer) and microsite conditions on the establishment and growth of deciduous woody species planted as part of a large-scale riparian restoration effort within the Starkey Experimental Forest and Range in northeastern Oregon. We tracked growth and survival of species both exposed to and protected from wild herbivores and under a range of micro-site conditions over 2 years. Results indicate that wild ungulate herbivory had measurable effects on seedling survival and height. Plants protected from ungulate browsing were significantly taller than unprotected plantings, and this pattern held for six of the seven species evaluated. Microsite conditions also influenced survival. Despite the extensive planting effort (>40,000 plants), plantings had minimal impact on overall shrub cover in the riparian zone. We discuss implications of our results for integrated ungulate management and current riparian restoration practices for salmonids in riparian ecosystems.
Oral presentation and poster titles, abstracts, and authors from the Society for Range Management (SRM) Annual Meetings and Tradeshows, from 2013 forward.