Roads are often identified as sources of ecological process disruption. Roads can damage aquatic ecosystems by altering hydrologic, wood, and sediment regimes, degrade water quality, and reduce habitat suitability for aquatic biota. Often sedimentation is singled out as a premiere contributor to degradation. Over the past half century, thousands of miles of roads have been built across federal lands for a variety of purposes. In response to climate change, road restoration is considered a high priority as a means to reduce factors limiting natural processes and native species, particularly as a potential adaptation strategy to assist cold-water fish species. With an extensive road network and limited funding, managers must prioritize restoration activities that will cost-effectively reduce the most pressing negative impacts of roads (Luce et al. 2001) while maintaining necessary access and public support. Here we address this prioritization need by merging two proven monitoring approaches to develop a new understanding of road restoration effects on aquatic ecosystems. First, we apply an empirical methodology known as the Geomorphic Roads Analysis Inventory Program (GRAIP) to locate and estimate fine sediment generation produced on road surfaces and delivered to streams. We then link the GRAIP sediment delivery monitoring with stream channel monitoring approaches to: 1) develop local relationships of road effects with in-channel responses; 2) evaluate the effectiveness of road restoration activities within a landscape context; and 3) provide a foundation for long term monitoring. Early results support conceptual models linking high road densities with increased fine sediment within streams, but indicate a small percentage of roads are responsible for the majority of fine sediment delivered from road surfaces, thus lending support for informed approaches for repairing necessary roads and removing unneeded, legacy roads when appropriate.
