Comparison of coarse particulate organic matter retention in meandering and straightened sections of a third‐order New Zealand stream

Four types of coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM), 100 mm and 200 mm lengths of wooden dowel, paper strips and Eucalyptus leaves, were released in either straightened or naturally meandering sections of a third‐order stream in lower North Island, New Zealand. The distance travelled until retained and the fate of each CPOM type were recorded over a range of discharges (0.10–0.77 m³ s^?1) in stream sections with differing riparian characteristics (forest, willow and pasture). In meanders, CPOM travelled a shorter distance until retention and a higher proportion of released CPOM was retained compared to straightened reaches. CPOM travelled further until retention in pasture sections. Snags (vegetation and debris) were more important than rocks and eddies as retention structures, but more items were trapped by eddies in straightened reaches than in meanders. Leafy CPOM (paper strips and Eucalyptus) were retained more than wooden dowels, with paper strips behaving in a similar fashion to Eucalyptus leaves. Longer dowels were retained more than shorter ones. Changes to the channel form of this stream have significantly affected the rate and nature of CPOM retention which in turn could impact on stream ecosystem structure and productivity. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.