Transient organic jams in Puerto Rican mountain streams after hurricanes

Extreme storms in forested environments commonly increase inputs of coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM) and large wood (LW) to streams. Protruding boulders and bedforms, mid‐channel bars, and standing trees can trap CPOM and LW. These organic accumulations can become large enough to span the bankfull channel width, or the accumulations can be predominantly along the channel margins. We refer to both types of accumulations as transient organic jams (TOJs). TOJs can create diverse geomorphic and ecological effects in channel and floodplain environments. We use data collected from mountain streams of the Luquillo Mountains of north‐eastern Puerto Rico following September 2017 Hurricanes Irma and Maria. We examine the location, characteristics, and geomorphic effects of TOJs in channel segments representing diverse drainage areas and channel gradients. We ask three questions: (a) Does the downstream spacing of TOJs correlate with variables such as drainage area or channel gradient? (b) What variables best predict the volume of organic matter within individual TOJs or within a channel segment? And (c) is there a threshold within a river network that separates channel segments with channel‐spanning versus marginal TOJs? Datasets include multiple TOJs along each of 12 stream segments and presence/absence of channel‐spanning TOJs along an additional six streams. Data analysis with multiple linear regressions indicates that downstream spacing, average volume, and total volume per channel length of TOJs correlate significantly with bankfull channel width. Using the akaike information criterion with correction (AICc) model selection method, Strahler stream order has the most influence on the probability of TOJs being marginal or spanning.