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Defining Stream Reach Structure for use in Subbasin Planning

Defining Stream Reach Structure for use in Subbasin Planning. Keith Wolf, KWA Ecological Sciences, Inc. Penticton, B.C. June 23, 2003. Purposes. Organize environmental data and identify “gaps” Prioritize reaches in terms of their “Preservation Value” and “Restoration Potential”

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Defining Stream Reach Structure for use in Subbasin Planning

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  1. Defining Stream Reach Structure for use in Subbasin Planning Keith Wolf, KWA Ecological Sciences, Inc. Penticton, B.C. June 23, 2003

  2. Purposes • Organize environmental data and identify “gaps” • Prioritize reaches in terms of their “Preservation Value” and “Restoration Potential” • Force explicit statement of ecological hypotheses • Determine the location, nature and severity of the factors limiting production • Use the “diagnosis” to evaluate effectiveness of enhancement alternatives under specific conditions

  3. Purposes cont. • Design M&E (based on reach and subbasin hypotheses). • Evaluate “non-fisheries” land and water use proposals for fish impacts. • Provide consistent framework for comparing alternative actions between rivers.

  4. Defining Stream Reaches • Stream Reach- A segment of a stream or river in which environmental and biological attributes affecting salmon/steelhead survival are relatively constant. Reaches are environmentally homogenous from the standpoint of a fish. Stream reaches are defined by geomorphic, biological, and anthropogenic influences relevant to current and historical conditions.

  5. Provisional List of Okanogan Stream Reaches

  6. Primary reach break designations- • Mainstem inundation • Fish bearing stream confluences (focal species, any lifestage) • Include streams that supported focal species historically • Obstructions- (e.g., waterfalls, culverts, major irrigation diversions, dams) directional, seasonal, species, life stage specific • Confinement (natural and anthropogenic) • 4 times channel width = unconfined

  7. Gradient • 0.0-0.1% • 0.1-0.5% • 0.5-1.0% • 1-2 % • 2-4 % • Urban/rural interface • Point source pollution or water withdrawal • Hatchery release points • Dewatered reaches • Hydraulic roughness

  8. Temperature gradients (other water quality gradients) • Gross changes in riparian condition • Preserve 6-HUC linkage • Species-specific access limits • Special geomorphic features (e.g., alluvial fans, braided glacial outwash zones, deltas/distributaries). • Colluvial • Bedrock • Alluvial: cascade, step-pool, plane bed, pool-riffle, dune-ripple • Exotic species boundaries (0, 1-2, 3 or more)

  9. EDT Attributes, Organizational Structure

  10. Using the Stream Reach Editor Part of the Ecosystem Diagnosis and Treatment method and model input interface

  11. Using Terrain Navigator Tool for Habitat Work Groups

  12. What do we get? • Ecosystem Diagnosis and Treatment • Prioritized Actions • Assessment (organized and retrievable data) • Inventory (context for next steps) • Management Plan (based on priorities and habitat limiting factors) • Subbasin Plan • Funded Projects

  13. Summary • Subbasin plans are part of the Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s Fish and Wildlife Program (BPA, NOAA, USFWS State, and local government support) • Plans are being developed in 54 of 62 Columbia Basin subbasins (11 Provinces) • Funding decisions will be based upon subbasin and management plans • Subbasin plans are due in May 2004 and will be updated every ? years • Reach-level hypotheses provide the basis for defining priorities and thus will define future funding priorities and overall recovery planning efforts

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