Mountain Scholar

Mountain Scholar is an open access repository service that collects, preserves, and provides access to digitized library collections and other scholarly and creative works from Colorado State University and the University Press of Colorado. It also serves as a dark archive for the Open Textbook Library.

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Colorado State University, Fort Collins 27643
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Open Textbook Library Archive 25
A limited number of titles are available here. To see all OTL titles, please visit the Open Textbook Library at https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks. Only Open Textbook Library staff have access to all OTL Archive titles held in Mountain Scholar.
University Press of Colorado 1088
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Recent Submissions

Access status: Open Access ,
Channel characteristics and large organic debris in adjacent burned and unburned watersheds a decade after wildfire, Park County, Wyoming
(2002) Zelt, Ronald B., author; Wohl, Ellen E., advisor; MacDonald, Lee H., committee member; Anthony, Deborah J., committee member; Tate, Cathy M., committee member
Relatively few studies of fire effects on streams have examined the period beyond the first few years following wildfire, particularly in the Middle Rocky Mountains. In 1988 the Clover-Mist Fire burned most of the 66.8-km2 Jones Creek watershed, but less than 8 percent of the adjacent 49.5-km2 watershed of Crow Creek. These two watersheds had very similar geologic and pre-fire hydrologic and vegetative characteristics, and few other human activities. This study compared channel conditions between Jones Creek and Crow Creek. The objectives were to: (1) compare channel characteristics and channel stability; (2) compare large organic debris (LOD) characteristics and loading; and (3) identify processes that might explain the observed significant differences between the study streams. Ten reaches of each stream were studied, primarily during summer 1999. On average, the bankfull channel was 1.2 m wider in the burned stream than the reference stream after accounting for differences in drainage area and number of debris jams. Drainage area was the most important factor for explaining mean riffle width. The direction and magnitude of channel-width differences are consistent with the increased duration of near-bankfull discharge in the burned stream and the likely bank erosion after burning. After accounting for reach gradient, graphic mean size of riffle armor was 0.8Φ units coarser on average in Jones Creek than in Crow Creek. LOD frequency in forced-pool-riffle channels is less in Jones Creek than in Crow Creek. Small accumulations of LOD were more frequent along Crow Creek than Jones Creek. The frequency of debris jams was greater in Jones Creek after accounting for differences in either mean piece length or the frequency of pieces longer than channel width. Differences between streams in LOD frequency are consistent with continued greater mobility of debris in Jones Creek, leading to its rapid delivery to downstream reaches and export out of the watershed. Pieces of LOD were smaller and less well anchored in the burned stream than in the reference stream. The combination of larger average piece size and narrower channels yielded a greater ratio of average piece length to channel width in the reference stream. LOD-associated fine-sediment deposits were thicker but less frequent along the burned stream than the reference stream.
Access status: Open Access ,
Long-term fire effects on soil and vegetation nitrogen cycling: potential links to persistent stream nitrate export
(2026-02-06) Rhea, Allison E., author; Covino, Timothy P. author; Rhoades, Charles C., author; CSIRO Publishing, publisher
Background. Soil and stream nitrate concentrations often increase after severe fire from elevated nitrogen (N) mineralization and reduced plant uptake. However, it is unclear how long these effects persist and contribute to stream N export. Aims. We examined the contribution of soil N supply and vegetation N demand to 19-fold higher stream export that has persisted since the 2002 Hayman Fire in Colorado, USA. Methods. We compared soil N pools, inorganic N production, subsurface (0-100 cm) concentrations, vegetation cover, productivity and N demand 17 years post-fire. We sampled along burned and unburned hillslopes to evaluate whether near-stream vegetation and soils attenuated N loss during downslope transport. Key results. Mineral soil, leachate and groundwater concentrations were higher in burned than unburned hillslopes, despite similar mineralization rates. Burned uplands showed 62% lower productivity and 28% lower N demand relative to unburned forests. Riparian recovery exceeded uplands but remained incomplete relative to unburned conditions. Burned uplands acted as N sources, with slight reductions in soil in downslope riparian soils. Conclusions. Sustained export was driven by reduced vegetation N demand and subsurface transport, not increased mineralization. Implications. Revegetation of severely burned uplands and riparian zones may enhance long-term N retention.
Access status: Open Access ,
Watershed investment tool 3.0 update
(2026-03) Rhea, Allison, author; Colorado Forest Restoration Institute, publisher
Access status: Open Access ,
Southwest reforestation pipeline workshop summary
(2026-02) Vicini, Maria, author; Chambers, Marin, author; Burney, Owen, author; Pinto, Jeremiah, author; Sloan, Josh, author; Foe, Rachael, author; Kramner, Lauren, author; Colorado Forest Restoration Institute, publisher
Access status: Open Access ,
Uncompahgre Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program: gambel oak study summary
(2026-03) Weimer, Kate, author; Chambers, Marin, author; Parrish, Maggie, author; Swindon, Jessica, author; Colorado Forest Restoration Institute, publisher