Bonaparte Watershed Streambank Restoration Project

Year 2009
Proponent Bonaparte Watershed Stewardship Society
Project type Habitat
FSWP funding source DFO Fraser Basin Initiative
Grant amount $75,355
Total project value $144,031
ID number 09-D4-H

Location: Thompson

Project Summary

Overview

Over the past 9 years restoration activity has been relatively successful in the Bonaparte River with over 75 sites now stabilized. Significant areas of severe steambank erosion remain.  A recent watershed planning process sponsored in part by the FSWP has generated a series of watershed goals and objectives including a recommendation to continue with streambank restoration activity. Landowner interest in participation in watershed restoration is increasing in the Bonaparte watershed as a result of previous successes in completing restoration works, the development of a watershed planning framework under the WFSP that provides perspective and context for the individual sites to have greater meaning, and in response to concerns over climate change and the effects of pine bark beetle on watershed hydrology. Stabilizing eroding streambanks is seen as within the planning group as an opportunity to protect salmon habitat as well as to protect private land and promote a sustainable watershed ethic. The proposed sites will be undertaken using standard bioengineering methods under the supervision of Biologists familiar with local conditions and methods.  Local community participation will also be encouraged to improve local awareness of the principles behind reestablishing riparian function.

Objectives
1. To complete 14 restorations sites including pretreatment assessments, as built reports, photos and site and watershed scale mapping
2. To produce a report summarizing the effect of these and previous restoration sites including some preliminary monitoring of results such as participant perception and biophysical features of restored and unrestored sites.
3. To highlight the linkage between 2009 restoration activities and the 2007-2008 watershed planning recommendations
4. To apply the social marketing principles learned in the Kamloops Regional workshop to promote and inspire behaviour change using the restoration sites as experiential opportunity

Methods

Standard bioengineering methods will be used to restore eroding streambank at 14 key sites along the Bonaparte River and its tributaries. These include various combinations of streambank structures, instream complexing and riparian plantings as specifically prescribed for each site. Most prescriptions are based on recombinations of tree revetment, wood and rock spurs, plantings and fencing. A Biologist familiar with streambank restoration will design the site prescriptions and undertake the task of submitting applications for Section 9 permitting, organizing materials and equipment, working with landowners on cost share and in kind contributions. Each project offers the opportunity for interaction to develop improved understanding of the principles behind streambank stabilization and the value of healthy functioning riparian areas with landowners and other partners during project planning and construction.  Linkage to FSWP salmonid and watershed sustainability goals, and the WFSP planning process recommendations will be explained to participants to help affect behaviour change that supports salmonids and watersheds. Technical skills will be combined with social marketing skills to not only stabilze eroding banks efficiently but also to inspire behaviour change amongst partners to improve salmonid sustainability.



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