Riparian & Stream System Restoration: Eighteenmile Creek Project

1. GOAL & FUNCTION-BASED DESIGN FOR RIPARIAN & STREAM SYSTEMSTHE EIGHTEENMILE CREEK PROJECT PHASE I CONSTRUCTED AUG-SEPT 2003PHASE II CONSTRUCTED JUNE 18-20, 2007by Dave Derrick

2. EIGHTEENMILE CREEK IS A SUBURBAN, GRAVEL-COBBLE BED, POOL-RIFFLE-POOL REGIME STREAM IN A V-SHAPED VALLEY

3. SOME ASPECTS OF THE 18 MILE CREEK PROJECT PHILOSOPHY*As much as possible, techniques used were developed by observing nature and natural processes.**Design team worked with existing stream alignment and materials that were available***Designers wanted to “work with” the stream (nudge, not fight) stream energy and stream tendencies

4. 18 MILE CREEK RESTORATION ***SOME PROJECT GOALS*** • Aquatic habitat enhancement/restoration for Atlantic, Coho, and Chinook salmon, steelhead, Brown Trout, and bass. • In response to incredible fishing pressure (9,000 TO 11,000 fisher folks yearly during runs), access and ingress and egress to the stream, encouragement for recreators to wade, back cast space for fly fishermen, safety, aesthetics (a natural look), & access trails for emergency personnel/vehicles were all driving project goals • Stabilization of eroding banks and some riparian corridor vegetation (especially “leaning trees”) • Need to artificially carbon-load the carbon depleted areas, and integrate long-term carbon into the project • Re-establishment and enhancement of riparian buffer areas • Revegetate all disturbed areas, establish “tough” plants for high foot traffic areas • Minimize disturbance of downstream areas, especially with regard to habitat areas of T&E species Blanding’s Turtle

5. The "Locked Limb/Locked Log" Concept • Consists of small trees and/or Small Woody Debris (SWD consisting of limbs, limbs with leaves, sections of small tree trunks, tree tops, etc.), anchored within or placed under structures, with limbs/logs protruding into deeper scoured areas to provide in-stream cover, vertical and horizontal structure, and areas of refugia. • Can be either hand- or machine-placed • Locked Limbs are typically less than 2” inches in diameter, Locked Logs are greater than 2 inches in diameter

6. Pix by Derrick Close-up shot of the DS reference area, if you were a fish, where would you hang out? Is nature grand, or what?

8. Pix by Derrick Locked Logs ready for stone riprap

9. Everything is now “locked” in place with stone Pix by Derrick

10. Pix by Derrick Row of Locked Logs

11. Pix by Derrick Locked Limbs & Locked Logs - June 24, 2004

12. 4 Years later June 18, 2007 Pix by Derrick

13. Hydraulic Cover Stones (HCS) Large single stones placed in a flowing channel. Three versions: 1.) Top of the stone set at an elevation slightly lower than the typical base-flow water surface elevation. When sited correctly, the accelerated flow over the top of the stone will change from subcritical to supercritical flow, & further downstream back to subcritical (usually with a weak hydraulic jump). The hydraulic jump will entrain air & aerate the stream. 2.) Stone crest set just below the base flow water surface elevation results in an acceleration of the water moving over the top of the stone, with “standing waves” forming downstream of the stone. 3.) Stone crest set slightly above the base flow water surface, resulting in a V-shaped wake and flow split with a double return eddy flow pattern DS of the stone. However, these stones might be used as perches for predators. The constant movement & rippling of the water from the three types of Hydraulic Cover Stones results in a type of cover, “hydraulic cover”, masking fish location from the view of predators. The stones also provide resting areas & in-channel refugee for fish during high energy, high-flow events. Hydraulic Cover Stones are especially useful in sections of the stream with little in-channel structure, or vegetative cover, or undercut banks.

14. Natural Hydraulic Cover Stones on Elton Creek & Genesee River, NY Hydraulic Cover Stone at Elton Creek, NY Flow

15. My sneaker Close-up of Large Stones, these were hand selected & are 3 ft by 3 ft with two sides flat.

16. Here comes Jimmy with a Hydraulic Cover Stone!!!

17. Note sediment near stone acting as a dye trace. Flow

18. The first stone, lookin’ good and working hard!! Flow

19. Functions of Hydraulic Cover Stones • Provides micro-topography (scour & deposition) • Provides diversity of velocities • Provides “hydraulic cover”, turbulence, return currents, eddy fences, internal distortion, pressure zones • Provides feeding lanes for fish • Provides shape cover & solid substrate for benthics • Provides refugia • Dissipates energy • Can aerate water, or de-gas super-saturated water

20. Looking DS, note locations of Hydraulic Cover Stones during unusually low flow conditions

21. Hydraulic Cover Stones provide improved aquatic habitat Hydraulic Cover Stones shown functioning 3 different ways !!!! Graphics courtesy of Ecology & Environment, Inc.

22. Pix by Derrick

23. An everyday fisherman said the best fishing was immediately US of these 3 Hydraulic Cover Stones which form a mini pool within a pool, so to speak Pix by Derrick I love this picture!!

24. Flow from left to right, note weak hydraulic jump DS over the Hydraulic Cover Stone Pix by Derrick

25. Flow from left to right, note wake from Hydraulic Cover Stones Pix by Derrick

26. A nice brown trout caught among the Hydraulic Cover Stones

27. Pix by Derrick Multi-Use Hydraulic Cover Stones, in this case a fisherman’s resting rock, (FRR) FRR Sometimes you just have to park it !!

28. PHASE II OF THE EIGHTEENMILE CREEK PROJECT CONSTRUCTED JUNE 18-20, 2007

29. PHASE II FUNCTIONS • Constructed immediately DS of the 2003 restoration project FUNCTIONS: • Narrowed stream to increase low flow velocities & provide cover, holding areas, solid substrate, and also allow off-channel areas to revegetate as emergent aquatic marshes • Provide access for fishermen • Provide aquatic habitat (diversity and complexity) • Provide hydraulic cover (disturbance of surface water, difficult for predators to see fish)

30. Plan Drawing for Construction-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-June 2007 The Traffic Control Stone Wall

31. From overhead trestle, looking @ the DS end of the TCS wall. Construction-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-June 2007, Pix-Vic DiGialomo

32. THE FISHERMAN’S WALKING PATH(right bank)

33. Plan Drawing for Construction-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-June 2007 The Traffic Control Stone Wall The Fisherman’s path with a Single Stone Bendway Weir every 20 ft.

34. Placing stones in compression on the underwater footer stones. Construction-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-June 2007, Pix-Vic DiGialomo

35. Flow from left, looking @ stones in compression. Construction-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-June 2007, Pix by Derrick See the footer stone?

36. Close-up of fisherman’s path stones in compression. Construction-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-June 2007, Pix by Derrick See the footer stone?

37. Vic with a Single Stone Bendway Weir. There is a SSBW every 20 ft jutting into the channel from the Fisherman’s path. Construction-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-June 2007, Pix by Derrick

38. Looking US. Placing a Single Stone Bendway Weir. Construction-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-June 2007, Pix-Vic DiGialomo

39. A Single Stone Bendway Weir tied into the fisherman’s path. Construction-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-June 2007, Pix by Derrick

40. Looking US. Fisherman’s path complete and being used. Post-Project-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-Oct 16, 2007, Pix-Fuhrmann

41. SMILES, FROWNS, KICKERS, SINGLE HYDRAULIC COVER STONES, CLUSTERS OF HYDRAULIC COVER STONES • All in-channel, as much as we could fit in and still provide functions listed below, all in the name of good fishing. FUNCTIONS: • Provide cover for fishes, dissipate stream energy, speed current through narrow deep mini channels, divert flow, redirect, cause eddy fences, calm water, holding areas, feeding lanes, diversity & complexity of flow both vertical & horizontal, & surface disturbances

42. Plan Drawing for Construction-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-June 2007 The Traffic Control Stone Wall The Fisherman’s path with a Single Stone Bendway Weir every 20 ft.

43. Looking US. Lots of channels, holding water, diversity, etc. Construction-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-June 2007, Pix-Vic DiGialomo

44. Flow left to right, placing Hydraulic Cover Stones Construction-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-June 2007, Pix-Vic DiGialomo

45. Looking US @ TCS wall & HCS, Smiles & Frowns Post-Project-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-Oct 16, 2007, Pix-Fuhrmann

46. Looking across & US. HCS, Smiles, Frown, Kicker Post-Project-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-Oct 16, 2007, Pix-Fuhrmann Fisherman’s path being used

47. For this project, it’s all about the fishing!!! Construction-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-June 2007, Pix by Derrick

48. It’s all about the fishing!!!! Construction-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-Fall 2007

49. It’s all about the fishing!!!! Construction-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-Fall 2007

50. BIG THAW PLUS RAIN = HIGH STAGES Feb 6, 2008