coos watershed association watershed restoration projects

Coos Watershed Coos Watershed Association Association

Watershed Watershed Restoration ProjectsRestoration Projects

Restoration StrategiesRestoration Strategies

• Fish passage improvementFish passage improvement• Road-related erosion controlRoad-related erosion control• In-stream habitat enhancement In-stream habitat enhancement • Riparian area restorationRiparian area restoration• Wetland improvementWetland improvement

Palouse Creek CulvertPalouse Creek Culvert

Fish Passage ImprovementsFish Passage Improvements

• Culverts are usually barriers when:Culverts are usually barriers when:• Perched Perched • Higher sloped than the adjacent streamHigher sloped than the adjacent stream• Significantly undersizedSignificantly undersized• Blocked by a tidegateBlocked by a tidegate

Willanch East County BridgeWillanch East County BridgeFish Passage ProjectFish Passage Project Culvert was a fish barrier because:

•6” outlet drop•9% gradient (no stream substrate

for roughness)•Undersized (4-foot diameter on a

14-foot wide channel)

Fall Creek CulvertFall Creek Culvert

Fish Barrier because:• Perched 1-foot• Undersized for stream• Double culverts plug more easily

Tide GatesTide Gates

Tide gates cause fish passage problems:•During high tide•When culvert is undersized•If gates cause high velocities when open•If structure is failing

Large Stream Tide GatesLarge Stream Tide Gates

• Side-hinge designsSide-hinge designs• Open with little head Open with little head

differencedifference• Reduce velocitiesReduce velocities• Reduce period gates are openReduce period gates are open

Larson Tidegate Opening (October 10-13)

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

3790

4.75

3790

5.00

3790

5.25

3790

5.50

3790

5.75

3790

6.00

3790

6.25

3790

6.50

3790

6.75

3790

7.00

Ele

vati

on (A

rbir

ary

Dat

um, f

t.)

Tidal Elevation

Pool Elevation

Roads and SedimentRoads and Sediment

• Road erosion is caused by:Road erosion is caused by:• Undersized culverts that wash outUndersized culverts that wash out• Undersized culverts that divertUndersized culverts that divert• Excessively long ditchesExcessively long ditches• Side-cast roads that slide outSide-cast roads that slide out

Removing Abandoned Removing Abandoned RoadsRoads

•Improve fish passage•Reduce risk of stream crossing failures•Reduce chronic sediment inputs

Forest Road DecommissioningForest Road Decommissioning

•Reduce landslide risk•Improve natural drainage (flood mitigation)•Reduce unwanted trespassing

Rogers Tributary Channel ConstructionRogers Tributary Channel Construction

Rogers Tributary Channel ConstructionRogers Tributary Channel Construction

Fall Creek Wood PlacementFall Creek Wood Placement

Large wood benefits:Large wood benefits:

• Gravel depositionGravel deposition• Pool scourPool scour• Cover from Cover from

predatorspredators

Willanch CreekWillanch Creek

Wood creates slack-water Wood creates slack-water areas during high winter areas during high winter flows for juvenile salmon flows for juvenile salmon and other fishand other fish

Riparian Restoration Stream-

side Planting

Reasons for planting stream banks:

•Increase bank stability•Replace unwanted weeds•Improve habitat for birds

and wildlife•Shade streams

Packard Creek Packard Creek RiparianRiparian PlantingPlanting

• Fencing excluded cattle Fencing excluded cattle from streamfrom stream

• Roots stabilized banksRoots stabilized banks• Canopy helped shade Canopy helped shade

streamstream

Packard Creek Packard Creek RiparianRiparian PlantingPlanting

Native vegetationNative vegetationplanted in spring planted in spring

2003 2003 improved streamimproved streamtemperatures during temperatures during the second year ofthe second year ofgrowth.growth.

Packard Creek 7 Day Maximum Temperature

60.0

65.0

70.0

75.0

80.0

85.0

2003 2004

Year

Tem

p (F

) Upper Packard

Mid Packard

Conservation Conservation Reserve Reserve

EnhancementEnhancement ProgramProgram

• Pays rental money for Pays rental money for stream buffer acresstream buffer acres

• Cost-share money for Cost-share money for planting, fencing, off-planting, fencing, off-channel watering, and channel watering, and stream crossingsstream crossings

WetlandsWetlands

Appropriately managed wetlands can

provide:

Rearing habitat for juvenile salmon•Floodwater storage and retention•Bird and wildlife habitat•Natural water purification systems

• QuestionsQuestions• How to get more informationHow to get more information• How to get involvedHow to get involved