Introduction

Taylor Ranch is a remote wilderness research station owned and operated by the University of Idaho. It is located within the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, along Big Creek, a tributary to the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. The station is staffed and accessible year-round by bush-plane, foot or horse.

Students and Professors from ISU and other universities have been working at Taylor Ranch for over 30 years studying both biological and physical phenomenon unique to this wilderness setting. Below are some infrastructure development projects that have just begun.

Gaging Station and Water Quality Monitoring

In 2008, with masters student Neil Olson, we have re-established a gaging and water quality sensor system at Taylor Ranch along Big Creek. This station will assist both studies of Aquatic and Riparian Ecology and Geomorphology done by both academics and agency scientists. This gaging station will be used to monitor discharge and water quality year round and transmit this data to a server for real-time monitoring by shareholders.

• Here is a schematic of the sensor and logger array. Click on a component to learn more.
• Here is a sample of the data available (coming Fall 2008)

Suspended Sediment in the Mainstem and Tributaries of Big Creek

In 2008, with undergraduate Eric Carlson, we have begun a suspended sediment monitoring program that aims to develop rating curves for sediment delivery in the mainstem and tributaries of Big Creek. Comparisons will be made between burned and unburned catchments to assess the impact of wildfire on water quality and sediment loads.

• Here is a link to Eric's funded proposal.

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updated: spring 2010