4.1 Within-site comparisons
In all sites except those in Colorado, either treatment or reference
stocks are highest, and either treatment or degraded are the lowest of
the three categories (Figure 2, Tables 2 & 3). Reference stocks are
generally estimated to be higher than degraded stocks (seven of nine
sites) although the result is only significant at the 95% confidence
level for three sites. Colorado sites excluded, the only sites with
statistically highest stocks are reference sites (Fivemile Bell, Whychus
Creek, and East Canyon Creek). Colorado sites have the highest stocks in
degraded floodplains, lowest in treatment floodplains, and intermediate
stocks in reference floodplains. Although we expected carbon stocks to
vary with moisture, only three floodplains of the 38 measured (East
Canyon Creek Degraded Reach 1, Staley Creek Degraded Reach 2, and South
Fork McKenzie Reference Reach) have significant differences between
carbon stocks for wet versus dry samples. Therefore, for simplicity, we
did not account for moisture when conducting tests for significant
differences between categories.