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Location: Fraser Valley, Mission bridge, east to Hope, BC Project Summary
SUMMARY This project will evaluate the current function of existing habitat restoration projects in the Fraser Valley that have been constructed by provincial and federal fisheries agencies, and local watershed stewardship groups. The project will catalogue restoration projects deemed of high value and priority by the provincial and federal representatives. Various stakeholder groups will be engaged, and suggestions will be made to identify appropriate groups to carry-out future monitoring and minor maintenance on the projects. OVERVIEW The purpose and scope of this project is to evaluate the current function of existing habitat restoration projects in the Fraser Valley that have been constructed by provincial and federal agencies, and local watershed stewardship groups. The project will simultaneously catalogue all restoration projects deemed of high value and priority to representatives of the BC Ministry of Environment, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada who have intimate knowledge of projects. Restoration programs such as the provincial Forest Renewal BC (FRBC) and federal Resource Restoration Division (RRD) were integral at responding to impacted watersheds in the Fraser Valley. Since the mid 1990’s, greater than 50 habitat restoration projects of varying aspects have been funded and implemented through non-government organizations, First Nations, and government agencies. The cost of these projects has been estimated to be greater than $2 million dollars. During the years of implementation, effectiveness evaluation and project monitoring was of low priority. The situation is changing, and project evaluation and monitoring is now a fundamental component of restoration projects. Identifying modification or maintenance needs on existing restoration projects has a significant cost benefit over commencing new restoration projects. Furthermore, it is likely that the past habitat projects resulted in the greatest level of restoration success. Unfortunately, the ongoing success of these valuable projects may be hampered as a result of human neglect. This project will inspect select habitat restoration projects and document the “challenges” and “opportunities” that exist at each. Additionally, many consultants have been responsible for implementing habitat restoration compensation projects. These projects typically require at least three years of post-construction evaluation and monitoring. Once the contractual requirements expire, no specific entity is responsible to monitor or maintain the projects. Key projects will be identified by FOC and the MoE, and the project will be brought to the attention of the most suitable local stakeholder group to suggest future ownership. As agencies downsize and staff members retire, a collective corporate knowledge of these projects will diminish or be lost. To address this situation, this project will also capture specific design information which is critical for future watershed stewards to properly maintain these habitat projects. OBJECTIVES Objective #1 Review existing fish habitat restoration projects to ensure they are functioning adequately and safely. Make recommendations on potential improvements, and highlight general maintenance activities that should be carried-out in the future for optimal performance.
The project’s design methodology and goals will be devised from scientifically based industry and provincial standards as well as from federal and provincial biologists’ expertise. A selection of priority projects will be determined by agency biologists to respond to their management objectives. Seasonal evaluations will be considered for some sites to monitor the peak and low base flows that the project site will be subject to. Site characteristics which may be impeding fish migration into project sites (i.e. off-channel habitat) will be a key focus. Potential constraints may include: height or velocity barriers at side-channel outflows; aggradation at side-channel intakes; and beaver dam influence. Additionally, considerations such as project longevity/durability, project performance, habitat quality, and water temperature will be evaluated. To confirm that fish are able to seed a side-channel, fish sampling using minnow traps may be required. Appropriate authorization/permits will be obtained. A modified version of the protocols document by the Forest Investment Account (FIA), Guidelines for In stream and Off-channel Routine Effectiveness Evaluation will be used predominantly as the evaluation template for measuring the effectiveness of the side-channels and large woody debris structures (Anonymous 2003). Habitat quality will be evaluated by inspecting physical stream changes (pool scour, wood accumulation, etc) resulting from the structure’s function and interaction with the natural environment. The LWD integrity component reviews key structural components and ensures that there are no existing human or physical infrastructure hazards. The following technical reports will generate the framework of the project evaluation: * An Effectiveness Monitoring Guide for Stream Restoration Conducted for Greater Georgia Basin Steelhead Recovery (Slaney, 2006) * Guidelines for instream and off-channel routine effectiveness evaluation (Anonymous, 2003) * WRP Technical Circular #12 - A Framework for Conducting Effectiveness Evaluations of Watershed Restoration Projects (WRP Tech Circ #12, 1999). A final simplified document will outline protocols for stakeholders to follow to properly monitor and maintain restoration projects, to assure the greatest project site longevity and functional habitat. The document will provide the following: geo-reference and map project sites; indicate the original project developers, rationale, objectives; provide an estimated end-date for a project developers ownership; encourage specific stakeholder group participation; indicate rare/endangered species presence (desktop review of the BC Conservation Data Centre (CDC) database); and outline a project monitoring and maintenance schedule.
Contributing to a process that will ensure long-term sustainability of aquatic habitat and is vital for a healthy watershed and the salmonids which inhabit it. Many habitat restoration projects have been designed and implemented by extremely competent individuals, but career departures exist, and many of these projects then become neglected. Furthermore, the nature of funding for habitat and ecosystem restoration, ebbs and flows with the current government and economic situation. This generates programs which have a sunset to them, leaving projects unattended once the program comes to an end. This proposed project will aim to develop the communications with local stewardship groups to tend to specific high productivity restoration projects so that they function at optimal levels throughout time. Often maintenance of these projects are quite simple for a group of volunteers, and can be accomplished with minimal costs. The issue lies in the fact that many of these groups may not be aware of some of the projects, or what is required of them to keep it functioning and therefore maintenance attention ceases.
The goal of the project is to outline specific projects, and design parameters, so that local stakeholders including stewardship groups, angling organizations, educational institutions, and First Nations can take on a monitoring and maintenance role in the future. These stakeholders will be recruited, on a volunteer basis, to assist with the field investigations so that project design specifications can be easily and accurately shared with group members, as well as implement a model that will moderate project costs, as well as future maintenance costs. Complement or implement local and / or regional plans (e.g., recovery plans, watershed plans) 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”) 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 aspects The project scope has been designed to acquire local knowledge from fisheries resource managers, as well as from community members. For the project to be successful, knowledge sharing must flow in both directions from top-down, as well as bottom-up, passing along the most critical information regarding existing restoration projects so that appropriate solutions can be recommended. Sharing of data and knowledge, engagement of stakeholders, and mentoring individuals will be fundamental aspects and necessary for project success as the project aims to transfer this knowledge clearly and easily to future stewards. In addition to community participants being mentored throughout this process, BCCF staff will gain equally from the mentoring from senior agency biologists. This will be extremely valuable in future years, as our knowledge and commitment to Fraser Valley issues can then be strengthened. Additionally, creating opportunities that will foster partnerships with the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) can help to develop expertise, future stewards, and promote a vision for healthier watersheds in the Fraser Valley.
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