Post on 20-Jan-2016
description
transcript
SALT LAKE CITYSALT LAKE CITY
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIESDEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES
Red Butte Creek Riparian Corridor StudyRed Butte Creek Riparian Corridor Study
Public Workshop 3Public Workshop 3May 14, 2009May 14, 2009
Facilitated by BIO-WEST, IncFacilitated by BIO-WEST, Inc.
Workshop Presentation OutlineWorkshop Presentation Outline• Review of Workshops 1 and 2
– Purpose/Need of Study– Study Plan and Schedule– Riparian Area Definition– Riparian Corridor Functions– Baseline Assessment
• Recommended Types of Improvement Projects
• What is our collective vision for the Red Butte Riparian Corridor
Why is SLC Conducting This Why is SLC Conducting This Study? Study? • To assess current
conditions
• To determine desired future conditions
• To identify opportunities for restoration and remediation of Red Butte Creek
Why is SLC Conducting This Why is SLC Conducting This Study? Study? • To use the
information, data, and maps developed during the study to inform planning, permitting, and administrative processes of the Riparian Corridor Overlay District Ordinance (RCO)
What Will the Riparian What Will the Riparian Corridor Study Management Corridor Study Management Plan Include?Plan Include?• Statement(s) of desired future conditions
• Identification of restoration and remediation projects
• Cost analysis and ranking of projects
• Identification of project funding mechanisms
• Presentation of best management practices
• Inventory of GIS-based information
• Continuation of public outreach
What Does a Riparian Corridor What Does a Riparian Corridor Study Involve?Study Involve?
BIO-WEST
Planning & Public Outreachpublic workshops (four)
subcommittee/stakeholder meetings (quarterly)
web site comment form
Baseline Condition Assessment
vegetation
stream condition
Historical and Current Trend Assessment
Salt Lake City Public Utilities
Management Plan / Desired Future Conditions
Timeline and MilestonesTimeline and Milestones
Fall 2008 Winter 2009 Spring 2009 Summer 2009
Field Evaluation
Public Workshop 1
Public Workshop 2
Public Workshop 3
Public Workshop 4
Historical Trend
Assessment
High Flow Field
Evaluation
Identify Improvement Projects
Draft and Final
Mgt. Plans
Riparian Area Definition: Riparian Area Definition: • Zone of influence between aquatic and
upland areas
• Sometimes defined as including channel, floodplain, and transition zone
(Illustration by G. Zaimes; based on BLM 1991).
Riparian Corridor Functions:Riparian Corridor Functions:• Wildlife and Aquatic
Habitat– 60% of vertebrate species in arid
Southwest rely on riparian areas (Ohmart and Anderson 1982)
• Shading and Water-Temperature Control
• Aesthetics• Recreation and Open Space• Floodplain Storage
and Flood Damage Reduction
Riparian Corridor Functions:Riparian Corridor Functions:• Wildlife Travel
Corridors/Connectivity
• Organic Matter Inputs
• Stream Stability/Safety
• Pollution and Nutrient Filtration
• Storm Water and Irrigation Water Conveyance
Baseline Condition Baseline Condition AssessmentAssessment
Baseline Condition AssessmentBaseline Condition Assessment
Baseline Assessment Results Baseline Assessment Results ReviewReview• Aesthetics Function – Litter
• Wildlife Habitat Function – Invasive Plants
• Filtration Function – Lack of shrub and understory cover
• Stability Function– Erosion from storm runoff and
drain outfalls– Scour around concrete– Culverts narrower than channel
width– On-going stream channel
adjustments– Altered hydrology
Improvement Projects: Improvement Projects: Working Toward SolutionsWorking Toward Solutions
• Riparian Corridor Projects– General Projects
•Appropriate at any scale
– Local-scale Projects•Relevant to specific individual
locations or features (storm drain, culvert, etc.)
– Reach-scale Projects•Stream bed and bank stability
should be addressed at this scale
• Watershed-scale Projects
Figure from SLCO 2009
Riparian Corridor-scale Riparian Corridor-scale ProjectsProjects
General Projects : Stream General Projects : Stream CleanupCleanup
• Volunteer stream cleanup– Organize a group to pick up trash
along specific portions of the riparian corridor
• Mechanized trash cleanup– Heavy, over-sized items requiring
mechanical equipment to remove
• Stream adoption– http://www.adoptawaterbody.utah.gov/
• Continued public outreachFrom adoptawaterbody website
General Projects: Weed General Projects: Weed ManagementManagement• Weed Management and Revegetation
– Improve Habitat and Filtration Functions
• Weed-Management Techniques– Physical– Cultural – replant with desirable species– Biological– Chemical (herbicides)– Salt Lake County Natural Areas Plan
• Includes detailed information sheets by specieshttp://www.recreation.slco.org/planning/natural.html
General Projects : Weed General Projects : Weed ManagementManagement
General Projects : Weed General Projects : Weed ManagementManagement• Non-native invasive species common in riparian corridor but not on State or County “noxious weed” lists– English ivy and periwinkle
•Shallow root systems = poor stabilization•Low stem density = poor filtration•Exclude other plants•Habitat for rodents
– Siberian elm– Russian olive– Tamarisk– Tree of heaven
General Projects: RevegetationGeneral Projects: Revegetation• SLC Riparian Corridor Recommended
Plant List– Four lists according to mapped
vegetation community type– Canopy, shrub, understory species– Species appropriate for sun, shade, part
sun/shade
• Planting Techniques– Site and seedbed preparation– Seeding/planting guidelines– Protection from herbivory– “Fire-wise” plants –
http://www.utahfireinfo.gov/prevention/firewiseplants.pdf
General Projects: RevegetationGeneral Projects: Revegetation• SLC Riparian Corridor
Recommended Plant ListSpecies Name Sun Shade Part Sun/Shade
Gambel Oak Forest
Box Elder Forest*
Bigtooth Maple
Forest**
Narrowleaf cottonwood
Forest***
Narrowleaf cottonwood X X X X(Populus angustifolia)Chokecherry X X X X(Prunus virginiana )Peachleaf willow X X X X(Salix amygdaloides )Netleaf hackberry X X X(Celtis laevigata )Utah juniper X X X(Juniperus osteosperma )Douglas fir X X(Pseudotsuga menziessi )Twoneedle pine X X(Pinus edulis )Water birch X X(Betula occidentalis )Bigtooth maple X X X(Acer grandidentatum )Gray alder X X(Alnus incana )
Community TypesGrowing Conditions
Cano
py
General Projects: RevegetationGeneral Projects: Revegetation• General techniques appropriate for slopes
3:1 and flatter• Use geotextile for 3:1 to 2:1• Steeper than 2:1 requires structural/
engineered techniques
General Projects: RevegetationGeneral Projects: Revegetation• These general revegetation techniques
are recommended for:– Areas where invasive species have been removed– Areas disturbed by construction activities or utility
installation– Areas impacted by foot traffic, where future traffic
has been redirected or otherwise addressed
• NOT adequate for:– Slopes steeper than 2:1– Areas that are unstable due to stream erosion
processes– Areas that are unstable due to poorly controlled
runoff
• Need to understand why an area is not well vegetated
General Projects: General Projects: Bioengineered Slope Bioengineered Slope StabilizationStabilization• Use on slopes 2:1 or steeper
• Can be applied at various scales when slopes to be treated are above the AHWL
• When slopes extend to the AHWL and below, treatments should be applied at the reach scale and incorporate toe protection and grade control!
General Projects: General Projects: Bioengineered Slope Bioengineered Slope StabilizationStabilization
General Projects: General Projects: Bioengineered Slope Bioengineered Slope StabilizationStabilization
• Tiered vegetated cellular grids
Photos from NCHRP 544
Local-scale Projects: Outlet Local-scale Projects: Outlet ProtectionProtection• Recommend rock
and vegetation rather than concrete
• Stabilize conveyance channel as well as outlet
Local-scale Projects: Outlet Local-scale Projects: Outlet ProtectionProtection• Provide a stable path over entire
distance from pipe outlet to creek• Vegetated rock-lined swale is
recommended to provide some water quality treatment
• Where possible, avoid locating outlets within the active channel where they are subject to scour and channel change
Local-scale Projects: Outlet Local-scale Projects: Outlet ProtectionProtection
• Techniques appropriate for:– new storm drain
outfalls
– retrofits of existing outfalls that are in poor condition
– high-priority locations for retrofits are identified on project maps
Local–scale Projects: Stream Local–scale Projects: Stream CrossingsCrossings• These recommendations are applicable to new crossings and crossing replacements
• Bridge spanning full width of channel and active floodplain
Local-scale Projects: Stream Local-scale Projects: Stream CrossingsCrossings
• Box, arch, or large-diameter culvert with natural substrate bottom
• Open-bottom or bottom “fitted” with rock substrate
• Improved stability, conveyance, connectivity, and habitat functions relative to small-diameter culverts
• Reduced risk of cloggingDeer Creek Highway 189 crossing
Reach-scale Projects: Bed and Reach-scale Projects: Bed and Bank StabilizationBank Stabilization• Use in areas
within the AHWL, where conditions are affected by stream- channel adjustments
– streambed lowering
– bank scour
– channel migration
• Should implement comprehensively through reach from “hard point” to “hard point”
• “Local” scale approaches in adjusting reaches are unlikely to be long lasting
• “Local” scale stabilization often just sends the problem elsewhere
Reach Projects: Bed and Bank Reach Projects: Bed and Bank StabilizationStabilization
• Things to avoid:
– Treatments that protrude into the active channel and reduce width between banks
– Concrete or other smooth, impervious treatments
– Use of “hard” (nondeformable) bank treatments within acceptable meander zone
– Use of “hard” bank treatments above toe and lower bank zones
Reach Projects: Bed and Bank Reach Projects: Bed and Bank StabilizationStabilization
• DO:
– Give the stream as much width to adjust as possible
– Incorporate vegetation to the greatest extent possible
• Aesthetics
• Habitat
• Filtration/Water Quality
– Protect toe of bank to expected scour depth
– Incorporate grade control with bank stabilization
Reach Projects: Bed and Bank Reach Projects: Bed and Bank StabilizationStabilization
Reach Projects: Grade ControlReach Projects: Grade Control
Reach Projects: Toe ProtectionReach Projects: Toe Protection• Subexcavate to maximum depth of scour• Install rock sized to be immobile during flood
flows
Reach Projects: Bank Reach Projects: Bank StabilizationStabilization
• Applicable within and beyond riparian area
• Attempt to halt or reverse some of root causes of riparian corridor degradation
• Alterations to hydrology
• Alterations to sediment regime
• Point and non-point source pollution
Watershed-Scale ProjectsWatershed-Scale Projects
Figure from FISRWG (1998)
Figure from SLCO (2009)
Watershed-Scale ProjectsWatershed-Scale Projects• Lower Red Butte Creek watershed
is 32% impervious
Watershed-Scale ProjectsWatershed-Scale Projects• Manage and reduce impervious
surfaces– County WaQSP document includes
recommendations• Green roofs• Bioretention swales• Oil/water separators at gas stations• Porous pavement• Infiltration practices
– New development• U of U Research Park area• VA Hospital area
Figures from SLCO (2009)
Watershed-Scale ProjectsWatershed-Scale Projects• Retrofit existing development
– Seattle Public Utilities “natural drainage system” program
– Convert curb and gutter systems to bioretention swales, etc.
– Opportunities in your own yard• Infiltrate driveway and rooftop runoff
Watershed-Scale ProjectsWatershed-Scale Projects• Improve instream flows
– Investigate opportunities to secure and manage water rights for instream flows
– Improve groundwater recharge
• Increase construction inspections and enforcement of existing stormwater regulations– Reduce sediment/pollutant
inputs– Emphasize revegetation
Watershed-Scale ProjectsWatershed-Scale Projects• Conduct public
awareness campaign– Coordinate with U of U,
City Parks, etc. to show creeks on maps and web sites
– Neighborhood signs (e.g., “Yalecrest – Red Butte Creek Watershed”)
– Road signs – “crossing Red Butte Creek” etc.
– Storm drain stenciling– Sidewalk imprints
Improvement Projects - Improvement Projects - RankingRanking
• Identify high- vs. low-priority locations for each type of “local-scale” project (e.g., storm drains, culverts)
• Identify appropriate suite of projects for each reach
• Provide your input to determine which types of projects are highest priority
Summary of Workshop Series Summary of Workshop Series 1:1:Workshop Dates: October/November 2008
•Red Butte attendees: 16
•Red Butte comments: 2
•Emigration attendees: 27
•Emigration comments: 9
Summary of Workshop Series Summary of Workshop Series 2:2:Workshop Date: February 2009
•Red Butte Attendees: 24•Red Butte Comments: 5
•Emigration Attendees: 42•Emigration Comments: 3
What Is A Vision Statement?What Is A Vision Statement?• Defines desired or intended future
condition• Acts as a source of inspiration• Provides clear decision-making
criteria• Describes what will be achieved
Features Of An Effective Features Of An Effective Vision Statement:Vision Statement:
• Is clear and unambiguous
• Creates a vivid picture
• Describes a bright future
• Uses memorable and
engaging wording
• Embodies realistic aspirations
• Aligns with values and culture
Red Butte Creek Vision Red Butte Creek Vision Statement :Statement :• Introductory text (. . . a source for
inspiration)
• Supporting text (. . . desired future
conditions)
• Concluding text (. . . how to
implement)
Draft Vision Statement: Draft Vision Statement: IntroductoryIntroductory• The Red Butte Creek riparian corridor
is a highly valued natural resource that provides a refuge from the chaotic urban environment of the City. It is appreciated by the community for its relaxing and peaceful atmosphere, as well as for the visual and auditory benefits of a free-flowing stream. The riparian ecosystem is restored to the extent possible and provides many of the essential functions of a healthy natural ecosystem.
Draft Vision Statement: Draft Vision Statement: SupportingSupporting• To reach this vision, the following
riparian corridor functions must be realized:– a well-connected vegetative corridor
provides a diverse habitat for native wildlife– healthy, mature vegetation provides a
canopy to cool air and water temperatures; mid-level vegetation and ground cover allow for diverse wildlife habitat, erosion control, and filtration of sediment and pollutants
– an uninterrupted flow of clean, clear water supports a healthy cold-water fishery in the naturally perennial segments of the creek
Draft Vision Statement: Draft Vision Statement: SupportingSupporting– stream banks are stable but allow for natural
stream dynamics within acceptable limits for property owners
– the stream is recognized as a valuable asset by the community, with trash or debris and noxious weeds kept out of the stream bed and riparian corridor
– open space compliments the riparian corridor while allowing for accessible public enjoyment of the stream environment
– storm-water conveyances are upgraded to improve stream stability and water quality
– culverts along the stream are replaced to reduce stream-channel constrictions, provide energy dissipation, and improve stream-bed and bank stability
Draft Vision Statement: Draft Vision Statement: ConcludingConcludingThese efforts should be accomplished cooperatively between the City and Red Butte Creek riparian-corridor stakeholders, and property owners should be given a significant opportunity to provide input and implementation of proposed rehabilitation projects.
YOUR INPUT IS IMPORTANT!YOUR INPUT IS IMPORTANT!
• Identify improvement projects that are important to you.
• Suggest your revisions to the draft vision statement for the project.
• Ask project staff questions.
Ways to Comment and Ways to Comment and ParticipateParticipate
• Workshop Response Form
• SLC DPU Website (www.slch20.com)
• Contact SLC DPU: Florence Reynolds 801-483-6864 florence.reynolds @slcgov.com
THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING!PARTICIPATING!BIO-WEST Contacts:BIO-WEST Contacts:
Melissa StampMelissa Stamp435.881.1549435.881.1549mstamp@bio-west.commstamp@bio-west.com
Christopher SandsChristopher Sands435.752.4202435.752.4202csands@bio-west.comcsands@bio-west.com