Geomorphology, Hydrology, and Ecology of Great Basin Meadow Complexes—Implications for Management and Restoration

This report contains the results of a 6-year project conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development on stream incision and meadow ecosystem degradation in the central Great Basin. The project included a coarse-scale assessment of 56 different meadows systems coupled with more detailed, fine-scale analyses of six of those meadows. This report presents basic information on the linked geomorphic, hydrologic, and vegetation characteristics of the meadow systems. Then, the causes of degradation; the underlying geomorphic, hydrologic, and biotic processes operating within the meadows; and the factors required to evaluate the sensitivity or, conversely, resistance of streams and their associated meadow complexes to stream incision are described. Finally, management and treatment options are provided based on our current understanding of both the causes of degradation and the underlying processes.