18 mile creek restoration ***some project goals***

GOAL & FUNCTION-BASED DESIGN FOR RIPARIAN & STREAM SYSTEMS

THE EIGHTEENMILE CREEK PROJECT

PHASE I CONSTRUCTED AUG-SEPT 2003

PHASE II CONSTRUCTED JUNE 18-20, 2007

by Dave Derrick

EIGHTEENMILE CREEK IS A SUBURBAN,

GRAVEL-COBBLE BED, POOL-RIFFLE-POOL

REGIME STREAM IN A V-SHAPED VALLEY

SOME ASPECTS OF THE 18 MILE CREEK PROJECT

PHILOSOPHY

*As much as possible, techniques used were developed by observing nature and natural

processes.**Design team worked with existing stream alignment and materials that were available

***Designers wanted to “work with” the stream (nudge, not fight) stream energy and stream

tendencies

18 MILE CREEK RESTORATION ***SOME PROJECT GOALS***

• Aquatic habitat enhancement/restoration for Atlantic, Coho, and Chinook salmon, steelhead, Brown Trout, and bass.

• In response to incredible fishing pressure (9,000 TO 11,000 fisher folks yearly during runs), access and ingress and egress to the stream, encouragement for recreators to wade, back cast space for fly fishermen, safety, aesthetics (a natural look), & access trails for emergency personnel/vehicles were all driving project goals

• Stabilization of eroding banks and some riparian corridor vegetation (especially “leaning trees”)

• Need to artificially carbon-load the carbon depleted areas, and integrate long-term carbon into the project

• Re-establishment and enhancement of riparian buffer areas• Revegetate all disturbed areas, establish “tough” plants for high foot traffic

areas• Minimize disturbance of downstream areas, especially with regard to habitat

areas of T&E species Blanding’s Turtle

The "Locked Limb/Locked Log" Concept • Consists of small trees and/or Small Woody Debris

(SWD consisting of limbs, limbs with leaves, sections of small tree trunks, tree tops, etc.), anchored within or placed under structures, with limbs/logs protruding into deeper scoured areas to provide in-stream cover, vertical and horizontal structure, and areas of refugia.

• Can be either hand- or machine-placed

• Locked Limbs are typically less than 2” inches in diameter, Locked Logs are greater than 2 inches in diameter

Close-up shot of the DS reference area, if you were a fish, where would you hang out? Is

nature grand, or what?

Pix by Derrick

Locked Logs ready for stone riprap Pix by Derrick

Everything is now “locked” in place with stone

Pix by Derrick

Row of Locked Logs

Pix by Derrick

Locked Limbs & Locked Logs - June 24, 2004

Pix by Derrick

4 Years later June 18, 2007Pix by Derrick

Soil-Choked RIPRAP

from John McCullah’s

www.E-SenSS.com

From: www.E-SenSS.com

John

Rooted stock plants waiting to be planted, 18 Mile Cr., {SUBURBAN, GRAVEL-COBBLE BED, POOL-RIFFLE-POOL REGIME STREAM IN A V-SHAPED VALLEY} Newfane, NY

Mini case study: 1 of 4

Rooted stock plants in place, ready for

additional soil to choke riprap and surround

plants Mini case study: 2 of 4

“Sock” rooted stock plants placed within

voids in riprap, then

riprap “choked” with soil

and seeded.

Mini case study: 3 of 4

June 24, 2004-Growing well a year later

Mini case study: 4 of 4

4 Years later June 18, 2007Pix by Derrick

THE GREAT WALL OF NEWFANE

In this case a 100% spun coir mat, 700 grams/meter

Mini case study: 3 of 5

Half a growing

season later, June 24,

2004

Mini case study: 4 of 5

Looking US, 3 growing seasons after installation, Aug 25, 2006

• PIX FROM PAUL FUHRMANN

Mini case study: 5 of 5

Pix by Derrick

4 growing seasons later, June 13, 2008

Pix by Derrick

Looking US. 5 growing seasons later. Riparian

plantings are robust, June 7, 2009

Pix by Derrick

5 growing seasons later

riparian plantings

are robust. June 7, 2009

Large single stones placed in a flowing channel. Three versions: 1.) Top of the stone set at an elevation slightly lower than the typical base-

flow water surface elevation. When sited correctly, the accelerated flow over the top of the stone will change from subcritical to supercritical flow, & further downstream back to subcritical (usually with a weak hydraulic jump). The hydraulic jump will entrain air & aerate the stream.

2.) Stone crest set just below the base flow water surface elevation results in an acceleration of the water moving over the top of the stone, with “standing waves” forming downstream of the stone.

3.) Stone crest set slightly above the base flow water surface, resulting in a V-shaped wake and flow split with a double return eddy flow pattern DS of the stone. However, these stones might be used as perches for predators.

The constant movement & rippling of the water from the three types of Hydraulic Cover Stones results in a type of cover, “hydraulic cover”, masking fish location from the view of predators. The stones also provide resting areas & in-channel refugee for fish during high energy, high-flow events.

Hydraulic Cover Stones are especially useful in sections of the stream with little in-channel structure, or vegetative cover, or undercut banks.

Hydraulic Cover Stones (HCS)

Natural Hydraulic Cover Stones

on Elton Creek & Genesee River, NY Hydraulic Cover Stone

at Elton Creek, NY

Flow

Close-up of Large Stones, these were hand selected & are 3 ft by 3 ft with two sides flat.

My sneaker

Here comes Jimmy with a Hydraulic Cover Stone!!!

Note sediment near stone acting as a dye trace.

Flow

The first stone, lookin’ good and working hard!!

Flow

Functions of Hydraulic Cover Stones

• Provides micro-topography (scour & deposition)• Provides diversity of velocities• Provides “hydraulic cover”, turbulence, return

currents, eddy fences, internal distortion, pressure zones

• Provides feeding lanes for fish• Provides shape cover & solid substrate for benthics• Provides refugia• Dissipates energy • Can aerate water, or de-gas super-saturated water

Looking DS, note locations of Hydraulic Cover Stones during unusually low flow

conditions

Hydraulic Cover Stones provide improved aquatic habitatHydraulic Cover Stones provide improved aquatic habitat

Hydraulic Cover Stones shown functioning 3 different ways !!!! Graphics courtesy of Ecology & Environment, Inc.

Pix by Derrick

I love this picture!!

An everyday fisherman said the best fishing was immediately US of these 3 Hydraulic Cover Stones which form a mini pool within a pool, so to speak

Pix by Derrick

Flow from left to right, note weak hydraulic jump DS over the Hydraulic Cover Stone

Pix by Derrick

Flow from left to right, note wake from Hydraulic

Cover Stones

Pix by Derrick

A nice brown trout caught among the Hydraulic

Cover Stones

Multi-Use Hydraulic Cover Stones, in this case a fisherman’s resting rock, (FRR)

FRRSometimes you just have to park it !!

Pix by Derrick

PHASE II OF THE EIGHTEENMILE

CREEK PROJECT CONSTRUCTED JUNE 18-20, 2007

PHASE II FUNCTIONS• Constructed immediately DS of the 2003

restoration projectFUNCTIONS:• Narrowed stream to increase low flow velocities &

provide cover, holding areas, solid substrate, and also allow off-channel areas to revegetate as emergent aquatic marshes

• Provide access for fishermen• Provide aquatic habitat (diversity and complexity)• Provide hydraulic cover (disturbance of surface

water, difficult for predators to see fish)

Plan Drawing for Construction-18

Mile Creek, Phase II-June 2007

The Traffic Control Stone Wall

From overhead trestle, looking @ the DS end of the TCS wall.

Construction-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-June 2007, Pix-Vic DiGialomo

THE FISHERMAN’S

WALKING PATH(right bank)

Plan Drawing for Construction-18

Mile Creek, Phase II-June 2007

The Traffic Control Stone Wall

The Fisherman’s path with a Single Stone

Bendway Weir every 20 ft.

Placing stones in compression on the underwater footer stones.

Construction-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-June 2007, Pix-Vic DiGialomo

Flow from left, looking @ stones in compression.

Construction-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-June 2007, Pix by Derrick

See the footer stone?

Close-up of fisherman’s path stones in compression.

Construction-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-June 2007, Pix by Derrick

See the footer stone?

Vic with a Single Stone Bendway Weir. There is a SSBW every 20 ft jutting into the channel from the Fisherman’s path.

Construction-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-June 2007, Pix by Derrick

Looking US. Placing a Single Stone Bendway Weir.

Construction-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-June 2007, Pix-Vic DiGialomo

A Single Stone Bendway Weir tied into the fisherman’s path.

Construction-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-June 2007, Pix by Derrick

Looking US. Fisherman’s path complete and being used.

Post-Project-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-Oct 16, 2007, Pix-Fuhrmann

SMILES, FROWNS, KICKERS, SINGLE HYDRAULIC COVER STONES, CLUSTERS

OF HYDRAULIC COVER STONES • All in-channel, as much as we could fit in and still

provide functions listed below, all in the name of good fishing.

FUNCTIONS:• Provide cover for fishes, dissipate stream energy,

speed current through narrow deep mini channels, divert flow, redirect, cause eddy fences, calm water, holding areas, feeding lanes, diversity & complexity of flow both vertical & horizontal, & surface disturbances

Plan Drawing for Construction-18

Mile Creek, Phase II-June 2007

The Traffic Control Stone Wall

The Fisherman’s path with a Single Stone

Bendway Weir every 20 ft.

Looking US. Lots of channels, holding water, diversity, etc.

Construction-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-June 2007, Pix-Vic DiGialomo

Flow left to right, placing Hydraulic Cover Stones

Construction-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-June 2007, Pix-Vic DiGialomo

Looking US @ TCS wall & HCS, Smiles & Frowns

Post-Project-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-Oct 16, 2007, Pix-Fuhrmann

Looking across & US. HCS, Smiles, Frown, Kicker

Post-Project-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-Oct 16, 2007, Pix-Fuhrmann

Fisherman’s path being used

For this project, it’s all about the fishing!!!

Construction-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-June 2007, Pix by Derrick

It’s all about the fishing!!!!

Construction-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-Fall 2007

It’s all about the fishing!!!!

Construction-18 Mile Creek, Phase II-Fall 2007

MY BASSETT HOUND, CLEOPHUS SPEED

ELVIS DERRICK, AT REST

Can you get as relaxed as this??