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Location: Fraser Valley, Alouette River, Chehalis River, and Silverhope Creek Project Summary
SUMMARY We propose to conduct seasonal physical assessments and quantitative fish counts of restored habitat with Large Woody Debris (LWD) structures, and restored off-channel habitat on a subset of habitat restoration projects. A Comprehensive Technical Report (CTR) will document the results of this multi-region, five-year study. This project is designed as a direct assessment of previously funded FSWP project investments. OVERVIEW This proposal is intended to acquire critical partnership funding to assess the performance of fish habitat restoration projects implemented within the Fraser Valley geographic region. This evaluation is a direct assessment of past FSWP funded projects. An integral, but often neglected part of habitat restoration projects is post-construction effectiveness monitoring (Roni 2005). Effectiveness monitoring is essential because it can play a key role in adaptive management for future restoration projects, as well as demonstrate the value of habitat restoration investments as a method for recovering depressed fish stocks. Since 2002, the BC Conservation Foundation (BCCF) has been implementing the Greater Georgia Basin Steelhead Recovery Program (GGBSRP) and BC Living Rivers Georgia Basin/Vancouver Island Program (BCLRGB/VI) in conjunction with Lower Mainland regional Ministry of Environment (MoE) fisheries staff. Among the river restoration works conducted are upwards of 225 large woody debris (LWD) fish habitat structures, 350 boulders clusters, and 7 side-channel habitat projects in some of the most impacted Lower Mainland watersheds. Over half of this restoration work has been completed within the lower Fraser River region, between the Pitt River and Hope, BC. This project will evaluate fish usage and structural integrity of a subset of the restored habitat. Effectiveness monitoring began modestly in 2005, with the goal of completing 5 annual seasonal (summer and winter) assessments on three Lower Mainland rivers (and two on Vancouver Island in a separate project). Work has been completed on the Seymour River, with one more year required on Silverhope Creek and the Alouette River. A smaller effectiveness monitoring program is also on-going for the Chehalis River. Performance evaluation protocols will follow that described in the Monitoring Guide for Stream Restoration Conducted for Greater Georgia Basin Steelhead Recovery (Slaney 2006), which is based on the American Fisheries Society’s post-treatment analysis and recommendations in, Monitoring Stream and Watershed Restoration (Roni 2005). The document outlines scientifically based protocols including, replicate treatment and control site evaluations over multiple years and seasons to capture statistically rigorous biological data. In addition to the biological effectiveness monitoring, the durability and habitat performance of LWD structures will be evaluated using a modified version of the Watershed Restoration Program-FIA protocol Routine Effectiveness Evaluation (Anonymous 2003). A seasonal quantitative evaluation of juvenile salmonid usage associated with woody debris (treated) vs. control (un-treated) habitat will occur on the: Alouette and Chehalis rivers, and Silverhope Creek. Summer and winter juvenile salmonid underwater surveys will be conducted in August, and February, respectively. A mark and re-capture juvenile salmonid population estimate will be conducted on two side-channels that have been re-connected to the Silverhope Creek, following isolation as a result of highway protection. Physical assessments will evaluate large woody debris structural integrity and the development of aquatic habitat on the Alouette and Chehalis rivers, and Silverhope Creek. The project is part of a much larger, multi-region effectiveness monitoring program conducted in collaboration with MoE (Lower Mainland) and BCCF fisheries staff on Vancouver Island. The combination of replicate data sets, will contribute towards an instructive and publication quality evaluation of habitat restoration works; beneficial to re-assure past and future project funders of instream restoration investments, as well as provide guidance for future habitat restoration practitioners, and government personnel.
Some setbacks and challenges were experienced this past summer. Unusually high stream temperatures (>25C) and low flows (<10% MAD) in the Silverhope Creek resulted in postponement of the summer time component of the mark and re-capture study. This was due to concerns with fish handling stress and possible increased mortality. Extremely low flow conditions prevented proper fish trap operation (would not remain fully submerged), and was considered risky to capture (and stress) juvenile fish in the unusually warm water temperatures. The following project components are scheduled for this fall/winter: LWD structural integrity inspection and habitat evaluation (Alouette and Silverhope); stream bank profile using surveying instruments (Silverhope); side-channel mark and re-capture study (Silverhope); and replicate winter time juvenile underwater surveys (Alouette and Silverhope). The fundamental principle of collecting habitat restoration post-construction data presented in the 2009-2010 years’ proposal will remain the same for 2010-2011. For project design rigor to be achieved, replicate treatment and control site evaluations are required over multiple years/seasons. Biological evaluations will be conducted in 2010-2011 as either replicates of that evaluated from 2008-2010 or as entirely new habitat restoration treatment and control sites to expand on the diversity of the data set. Interpretation and analyses of biological/scientific study data has greater confidence and value to the final results when replicates are used, and account for differences in spatial and temporal scale. OBJECTIVES Objective #1 Demonstrate an effective use of FSWP funds, and illustrate the results and benefits of past habitat restoration investments
METHODS An effectiveness monitoring plan has been established using the Effectiveness Monitoring Guide for Stream Restoration Conducted for Greater Georgia Basin Steelhead Recovery (Slaney 2006). The document outlines scientifically based protocols including, replicate treatment and control site evaluations over multiple years and seasons to capture statistically rigorous data. A quantitative evaluation of juvenile salmonids inhabiting select habitat types will take place using underwater snorkel survey methodology, a common practice for estimating fish populations. The study is designed to evaluate and compare juvenile salmonid abundance in three different habitat types including: a) LWD Treated sites; b) natural control sites (void of wood); and naturally occurring wood structure sites (natural wood control). Surveys will occur in August (day time surveys) and February (night time surveys), to capture seasonal fish habitat utilization information. Similar studies on the Thompson and Skagit Rivers have successfully employed the use of night-time underwater surveys (Hagen et al. 2004). Winter underwater fish counts are critical, because harsh over-wintering conditions have been shown to cause the highest juvenile mortality rates in coastal streams (Ward and Slaney 1988) and this is a period when steelhead parr maximize mainstem LWD habitat usage (Roni and Quinn 2001). Surveys will be conducted on the Alouette, Chehalis (summer only), and Silverhope systems to assess ~85 LWD habitat structures, and a selection of control, and natural wood control sites. A modification of the Lincoln-Peterson mark and re-capture estimation (Chapman 1954) will be conducted on re-connected side-channels along the Silverhope Creek. Sampling of juveniles will be conducted in August (if water quality conditions are suitable to handle fish) and February. A modified version of the protocols document, In-stream and Off-channel Effectiveness Evaluation (Anonymous 2003) will be used to inspect habitat quality and structural integrity associated with the LWD habitat structures. LWD structural integrity evaluations will occur on the Alouette, Chehalis, and Silverhope systems. Habitat quality will be evaluated by inspecting physical stream changes (ie. pool development, and habitat cover) resulting from the structures interaction with the natural environment. The LWD integrity component will review key structural components to ensure no human or physical infrastructure hazards exist.
BENEFITS The final report should hold significant clout, and is anticipated to be accepted and used as a reference document for future habitat restoration practitioners, and potentially local governments. Evaluations of restoration methodologies will measure the success of existing work and provide guidance for adaptive management, leading to the use of the most efficient and effective techniques for greater benefits in the future. A vision of ours is to have the document utilized by local/regional governments in a way that would support their position on protecting and conserving existing aquatic and riparian habitats, as well as escalating future habitat restoration action using wood. A major concern in many of our Fraser Valley watersheds is public destruction of streamside trees, or the removal of wood from within the river channel. Informing local government and enforcing the high value of wood in rivers may be most effective by a study such as this, which quantifies and depicts high fish abundance associated with wood. Increased protection, stemming at the government level is needed to curtail destructive practices that occur in our watersheds. Through local government support, and public education, positive changes for fish and fish habitat can be initiated. Engage First Nations, government agencies and community groups/NGOs Katzie First Nations will be encouraged to become integrated into the project for work on the Alouette River. We anticipate that a Chehalis Indian Band member will assist with the survey on the Chehalis River, as they did this past year. Additionally, stakeholders such as Alouette River Management Society have accepted an offer to take part in the Alouette survey. Complement or implement local and / or regional plans (e.g., recovery plans, watershed plans) 1) BC Hydro - Bridge Coastal Strategic and Watershed Plans: Bridge-Coastal Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program, 2000. Strategic Plan (volume1) and Watershed Plan (volume2). 3) Chilliwack River Watershed Strategy - Watershed Issues and Recommendations (Fraser Valley Regional District, 2009, “Watershed Issues and Recommendations - A project team report from the CHILLIWACK RIVER WATERSHED STRATEGY”) Value-added benefit All three plans indicate the need to increase available fish habitat, and improve ecosystem function. Evaluations of restoration methodologies will measure the success of existing work and provide guidance for adaptive management, leading to improved restoration techniques for greater benefits in the future. Partnerships with First Nations and stakeholders will provide us with an opportunity to share this unique knowledge with individuals who are passionate, and who have decided to commit their time and energy to watershed stewardship issues. Fostering these partnerships will also help to build our capacity to carry-out future fisheries projects and studies in the region. Additionally, encouraging First Nations engagement will facilitate capacity building of fisheries resource personnel. These individuals can then become stewards protecting their territorial values, as well as values for Fraser Valley citizens.
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