Middle Wind River Riparian Enhancement Project. Presented by

Transcription

1 Middle Wind River Riparian Enhancement Project Presented by Tova Cochrane & Jamie Gomez

2 Overview (1) Who we are: Underwood Conservation District. (2) Project Description: History, site description, goals & objectives, proposed actions. (3) Pre-project Planning: Environmental assessment, design, engineering. (4) Project Implementation: Large woody debris instream structure construction & riparian revegetation. (5) Post-Project Monitoring & Evaluation: Preliminary i conclusions. Underwood Conservation District 2

3 Who We Are: Underwood d Conservation Districti A governmental, non-regulatory agency. One of 47 across Washington State and guided by the Washington State Conservation Commission. Directed by a board of five local l volunteer supervisors. Designed to be a local source of conservation assistance and education to landowners and residents in order to protect and enhance natural resources. Work with voluntary landowners to plan and implement conservation projects throughout h t district. i t Underwood Conservation District 3

4 Underwood Conservation D is tric t N Mt St Helens r Lew is River r Mt Adams ; ; Vancouver Portland W ind River Columbia River ; ; Stevenson Carson Whit ite Salmon Riv ver ; ; Hood River Bingen/White Salmon Rivers Klickitat River ; The Dalles Underwood Conservation District 4 r Mountains ; Towns

5 Middle Wind River Riparian Enhancement Project: History 2002 USFS identification of reach in Wind River Watershed Analysis, 2 nd Iteration Jim White (UCD) & Brian Bair (USFS) begin discussing goals and objectives for potential project Project Review and Work Site Evaluation completed by Brain Bair, Fisheries Biologist, USFS TEAMs Enterprise. Project Funding procured from Title II Resource Advisory Council funds. Two landowners willing to partner USFS and Hollis family. Underwood Conservation District 5

6 Underwood Conservation District 6

7 Underwood Conservation District 7

8 Project Purpose and Need From Wind River Watershed Analysis, regarding this area: Lack of fish habitat pools, River is wide and shallow at low water, Shortage of large woody debris, Lack of mature streamside vegetation (not many large trees). Underwood Conservation District 8

9 Purpose and Need, cont d From Wind River Sub-basin basin Plan (2004): Maintain side channels for fish habitat, Limit it lateral l movement of the river during high flow events, Minimize erosion from lateral bank cutting. 303d listings and TMDL for Temperature on Wind River (Dept. of Ecology). Underwood Conservation District 9

10 Falls Cr Hi Temp 7/31/ F Trapper Cr Hi Temp 7/31/ F Hi Temp 7/31/ F Beaver Campground Project Area Stabler Br Hi Temp 7/31/ F PCT Br Hi Temp 7/31/ F Underwood Conservation District 10

11 Falls Cr Hi Temp 8/13/ F No data Trapper Cr Hi Temp 8/13/ F Beaver Campground Project Area Stabler Br Hi Temp 8/13/ F PCT Br Hi Temp 8/13/ F Underwood Conservation District 11

12 Falls Cr Hi Temp 7/28/ F Trapper Cr Hi Temp 7/28/ F Hi Temp 7/28/ F Beaver Campground Project Area Stabler Br Hi Temp 7/28/ F PCT Br Hi Temp 7/28/ F Underwood Conservation District 12

13 Goals & Objectives Goals: (1) Reduce stream temperatures, (2) Reduce coarse & fine sediments from bank erosion, (3) Rehabilitate fish habitat. Objectives: (a) Reduce low flow width-to-depth ratio to <12, (b) Reduce bankfull width-to-depth to depth ratio to less than 35, (c) Increase floodplain LWD to >16 pieces per acre, (d) Increase instream LWD to >120 per mile, (e) Reduce bank erosion to less <20%, (f) Reconnect and/or maintain side channels. Underwood Conservation District 13

14 Proposed Actions I. Design and install a series of LWD structures to: - restore lateral channel stability, - reduce near bank shear stress & erosion, - reduce width-to-depth to depth ratio, - increase primary pools and hiding cover for juvenile and adult threatened Lower Columbia River steelhead. II. Plan and implement an extensive riparian native plant revegetation project. Underwood Conservation District 14

15 Design and Engineering Underwood Conservation District 15

16 Typical LWD Structure for Mainstem Streambanks Underwood Conservation District 16

17 Typical LWD Structure for Side Channels Underwood Conservation District 17

18 Beaver Campground Underwood Conservation District 18

19 Assessing Environmental Impact National Environmental Policy Act Environmental Assessment Completed in Included: Aquatic Resources Report, ESA Section 7 Consultation, Fisheries Bio. Eval., Cultural Resources, Botany, Wildlife Bio. Eval., Wild & Scenic Rivers Analysis. Determination of No Significant Impact. Other Permits Acquired WDFW Hydraulics permit, USACE Nationwide Permit, ECY Section 401 Water Quality Certification, ECY Construction Stormwater Permit. Underwood Conservation District 19

20 Project Implementation Underwood Conservation District 20

21 Underwood Conservation District 21

22 September 2008 October 2008 Structure A5 Located in side channel, 30 yards upstream of confluence with main stem. Intended to slow discharge velocities in side channel and increase side channel elevation & roughness. Underwood January 2009 Conservation District 22

23 Riparian Vegetation Enhancement New funding sources and project partners acquired Funding provided from WA Dept. of Ecology, Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group, and Bonneville Power Administration. Work accomplished by Wildlands Inc., NWSA Americorps crews, DNR WCC crews, and UCD staff. Underwood Conservation District 23

24 Riparian Vegetation Enhancement Historical logging, small-scale rock mining, and avulsive channel migration. Need for streamside shading & LWD recruitment. Endemic conifers: W. Red Cedar, W. Hemlock, Doug fir. Plantings from 2001 to present, utilizing Northwest Service Academy & Forest Youth Success groups. Browse protection & supplemental water methods employed. Underwood Conservation District 24

25 Invasive Species Control Control work from 2005 to present. Scotch Broom mechanical and manual control, weed wrench, lop & leave Canada Thistle biological control utilizing the thistle stem gall fly and mechanical lop & leave Underwood Conservation District 25

26 Stinger Planting 2008 Sitka willow 8,530 livestakes Black cottonwood 1,600 Red-osier dogwood 1,000 Douglas fir Also hand-planted: Vine Maple, Big Leaf Maple, Red Alder, Beaked Hazelnut, Cascara, Blue Elderberry, W. Red Cedar, Western Hemlock. Planted over 7 acres of gravel bars and construction sites. Underwood Conservation District 26

27 USFS Hollis Stinger Planting - UCD Underwood Conservation Hollis District 27 Middle Wind River Enhancement Legend: USFS

28 Revegetation of Construction Sites & Access A R Routes t Hand & stinger planted, Mulched and seeded for erosion control control, Entrance road obstructed to discourage future vehicular use use. Underwood Conservation District 28

29 Pre- and Post-Project Monitoring i & Evaluation Photopoint Monitoring Erosion Pins & Stakes Percent Bank Stability Width-to-Depth Ratio Percent Shade Coverage Survey of Riparian Planting Survival Fish Presence Snorkel Surveys Underwood Conservation District 29

30 Photopoint Monitoring Flow Before (above, 2006) and After (below, 2008) LWD Structure 1 placement. Structure 1b Underwood Conservation District 30

31 Photopoint Monitoring Structure 7c 9a 9b 9c Flow Underwood Conservation District 31

32 Preliminary Conclusions All engineered LWD structures w/ anchors are in place, functioning & providing streambank protection & slow water refuge in both side channel and mainstem habitats. Increased riparian seedling survival is associated with site preparation, invasive species control, mulching and & supplemental water. Livestake stinger plantings rapidly accomplish large scale floodplain revegetation but are costly and leave a disturbance footprint. Underwood Conservation District 32

33 Middle Wind River Riparian Middle Enhancement Wind River Project Riparian Enhancement Project Questions? Presented by Tova Cochrane & Jamie Gomez Underwood Conservation District 33 Underwood Conservation District