Previous research has shown that the presence of large wood increases stream retention of organic matter and may alter reach-scale geomorphology and hydrology. In addition, increased transient storage may increase the retention of non-conservative solutes, but prior results are equivocal. In May 2004, we conducted a reach-scale log addition in three first-order streams in the Ottawa National Forest of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. One objective of this study was to link in-stream complexity to transient storage and nutrient retention. In conjunction with bi-monthly short-term nutrient additions, conservative tracer injections (as NaCl) were conducted in 100 meter reaches over a three-year period before and after log addition. We estimated transient storage parameters by fitting the solute concentration curve to a one-dimensional advection, dispersion, transient storage model and solving iteratively (n=77). Although we observed changes in log-associated geomorphology, the addition of large wood did not influence stream hydrology. We found no significant effect of large wood addition on mean velocity, dispersion, or relative size of the transient storage zone (k₁/k₂), which ranged from 0.014 – 0.819. Storage zone size was not related to hydraulic parameters, but the rate of exchange between storage zone and the main channel increased with increasing discharge.