Effects of riparian forest thinning by two types of mechanical harvest on stream fish and habitat in northern Minnesota

The response of fish communities and stream habitat to four riparian harvest treatments was studied in north-central Minnesota to determine if riparian harvest with two different harvest systems degrades stream systems. Treatments included control (no harvest), riparian control, cut-to-length riparian thin, and tree length riparian thin. Fish and habitat data were collected from 50 m reaches above, within, and downstream of each treatment 1 year preharvest (1997) and 3 years postharvest (1998-2000). Repeated measures analysis revealed few effects due to treatment; however, there was a 6%-10% significant reduction in canopy cover. Percent fine sediments increased significantly (15%) system-wide following forest harvest and persisted through 2000. This increase in fine sediments was correlated with a decrease in fish biotic integrity (r = -0.31). Habitat and fish variables were influenced more by year-to-year variation than by harvest treatment, suggesting that factors operating at a broader basin-wide scale may influence fish and habitat or mask any site-level harvest effects in this low-gradient stream system. Residual riparian basal areas ≥12.3m²/ha along reaches ≤200 m in length may be adequate to protect fish and habitat in these low-gradient streams, but basin-wide effects of harvest deserve more scrutiny.