https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/files/original/8947092fef60aeafaaf8aa350ee28a79.pdf ec3be8a63caf95b53865248862ebfd3e PDF Text Text What is Toe Wood? “Toe wood” is a term that describes the use of large woody materials such as log stems, root wads and limbs for stabilizing stream banks and enhancing fish habitat (Figure A). The “toe” is the region at the base of the bank most prone to erosion where it transitions from a vertical to horizontal plane. Using large wood to restore streams is not a new concept. Toe wood evolved from the use of root wads to stabilize streambanks and was originally called “root rap,” derived from the term “riprap,” with the earliest applications from the 1960s (Rosgen 2019). Toe wood is useful for temporarily stabilizing banks until riparian vegetation becomes established, creating a “living,” vegetated streambank for long-term stability. CPW research has documented the direct benefits of toe wood functioning as fish habitat by improving habitat complexity, increasing fish population abundance and biomass, and enhancing pool depths. Specifically, toe wood-treated pools were deeper (Figure B; average difference = 1.5 ft), held more quality (>14“) adult Brown Trout (× 19), higher Rainbow Trout biomass (Figure C; × 8.1), and higher total Brown Trout abundance (× 2) than pools without large wood. In addition, total fish population abundance (× 1.5) and biomass (Figure D) were highest in toe wood pools (Kondratieff and Richer 2022). Our research has demonstrated the effectiveness of toe wood as a bank stabilizing technique and for riparian vegetation establishment, providing increased shading, overhead cover, and terrestrial insect habitat, thereby indirectly benefitting fish populations (Figure E). (A) (B) (C) (D) �Why Toe Wood? Human activities have led to an overall reduction in the amount, size, and sources of wood found in natural channels. Many studies have demonstrated the value of large wood for fish habitat in streams. Wood deposited on outside channel bends or within pools can induce scour, enhancing pool depths in streams. In contrast, wood deposited in the middle of stream channels in riffles or glides can induce deposition leading to island formation and development of complex side channels. Wood deposited on floodplains creates roughness that traps and promotes deposition of rich, nutrient-laden fine soils that benefit riparian plant species. Toe wood can be used to improve physical habitat conditions and increase carrying capacity for fish if it addresses limiting factors such as a lack of low flow refugia (i.e., deep pools), undercut banks, or habitat complexity. A major benefit of using toe wood as an alternative to other toe-stabilizing techniques like rock or boulder materials is that wood is a natural, biodegradable material. Over time, wood decomposes providing food, nutrients, carbon inputs, and other ecological benefits back to the stream and riparian ecosystem that boulders, rock, or concrete riprap materials do not provide. Toe wood installations can be done using completely natural and native materials without the use of steel bolts, cables, anchors, or large ballast boulders. This serves as an economic advantage of toe wood for use in trout streams found within the Rocky Mountain region as sources of woody materials are readily available in close in proximity to project sites, reducing processing, transporting, and hauling costs. Limitations Toe wood is not recommended for use in every river setting in the same way that naturally occurring large wood is not found in every stream. Some places where toe wood is not recommended include deep canyons or other places where floodplains are non-existent, including highly-confined river channels. Toe wood should not be installed immediately upstream of bridges, culverts, and other locations where dislodged wood pieces can hang up on structures downstream causing blockages or obstructing river flows. River locations where there are multiple user groups such as kayakers and rafters might not be good candidates for installing toe wood for human safely reasons since wood in streams can form dangerous hydraulic conditions that can increase drowning risk. Other design considerations that might limit the use of toe wood in certain river settings include consideration of the buoyancy, quality, and type of wood materials available. Toe wood installed in locations that are subject to high levels of angler or cattle foot traffic should include fencing or other exclusionary devices to limit disturbance to erosion-prone outside banks and protect riparian plantings. (E) Kondratieff, M. C., and E. E. Richer. 2022. Stream Habitat Investigations and Assistance Annual Report. Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Aquatic Wildlife Research Section. Fort Collins, Colorado. Rosgen, D. 2019. Natural channel design for river restoration. In P. Maurice (Ed.), Encyclopedia of water: science, technology, and society, pp. 11431155. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1002/9781119300762.wsts0100 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Fact Sheets Type The nature or genre of the resource Fact Sheet Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Description An account of the resource CPW Fact Sheets Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Toe Wood Applications in Stream Restoration Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Colorado Parks & Wildlife Extent The size or duration of the resource. 2 pages Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 2024 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/">No Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Only</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Fact Sheet Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource English