Fish Resources of Meeks Creek Watershed

SWANSON HYDROLOGY + GEOMORPHOLOGY

Appendix A. Fish Resources of Meeks Creek Watershed

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Fisheries – Technical Memorandum

This section contains a review of ﬁ sheries resources within the Meeks Creek Watershed project area, both current and historical. The focus of this technical memorandum is to provide background information regarding the species present within the Meeks Creek Watershed, their historic and current distribution, and current habitat conditions. This information has been developed in support of watershed management efforts. Consequently, areas where management efforts are proposed have received more attention in this document.

REGULATORY BACKGROUND TRPA Goals and Policies The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) is responsible for regulating local development to ensure preservation of ﬁ sh resources. The following discussion of the regulatory background was excerpted from various TRPA documents.

The TRPA must attain and maintain fi shery thresholds and other adopted standards. Fishery thresholds consider the importance of all existing fi sh species and their contribution to the ecological balance of the total fi shery resource. The TRPA fi shery thresholds and other agency’s standards are summarized in Table 1.

The maintenance of essential habitat serves as the fi sheries management emphasis. For streams, thresholds call for the maintenance of 75 miles of excellent stream habitat, 105 miles of good habitat, and 38 miles of marginal habitat. Habitat is rated by a technical committee at regular intervals, based on professional judgment regarding substrate quality, bank stability, and other habitat features. Also, stream habitat is classifi ed as resident or migratory, based on suitability for spawning by lake resident fi sh.

Other Agencies The mission statement of the California Department of Fish and Game is to manage California’s diverse ﬁ sh, wildlife, and plant resources and the habitats upon which they depend. These resources are to be managed for their ecological values and for their use and enjoyment by the public. The California Department of Fish and Game is the lead agency in California for safeguarding and regulating the uses of ﬁ sh and wildlife.

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is charged with the responsibility to protect, preserve and, if possible, enhance the nation’s fi sh, wildlife, and related ecological resources for the benefi t and utilization of the people of the United States. In fulfi lling this responsibility, one of the USFWS functions is to review proposals for the erection of structures in navigable waters

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of the United States to insure that: 1) fi sh and wildlife resources and their habitats receive due consideration in the decision- making process; and 2) the public’s interest in fi sh and wildlife resources, and in the uses of these resources, are protected. Authority for USFWS review of such proposals originates from the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.). The USFWS is also responsible for the status of wild populations of fl ora and fauna and for the identifi cation of those that are in danger of extinction, pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1533). Permits from, or consultation with, the USFWS is required for most actions that may affect listed threatened or endangered species.

Table 1. Fishery ordinances, policies and regulations Plan/Policy Standard/Criteria

Lahontan Cutthroat Trout: It shall be the policy of the TRPA Governing Board to support, in response to justiﬁ able evidence, state and federal efforts to reintroduce Lahontan cutthroat trout. TRPA Thresholds Stream Habitat: Maintain 75 miles of excellent, 105 miles of good, and 38 miles of marginal stream habitat. Instream Flows: a non-degradation standard shall apply.

Goal #1, Policy 1: Development proposals affecting streams, lakes, TRPA Goals and Policies and adjacent lands shall evaluate impacts to the ﬁ shery. Fishery Policies Policy #2: Unnatural blockages and other impediments to ﬁ sh movement will be prohibited and removed wherever appropriate.

Chapter 79 Fish Resources: Ensures the protection of ﬁ sh habitat and TRPA Code of Ordinances provides for the enhancement of degraded habitat.

Manages California’s ﬁ shery resources and habitat on which they depend. These are to be managed for their ecological values and California Department of Fish and for their use and enjoyment by the public. Fish and Game issues Game streambed alteration agreements for construction, modiﬁ cation or reconstruction of shorezone structures. They are currently reviewing their standards and policies for the issuance of these agreements.

California Water Quality Control Various policies and regulations for providing water quality sufﬁ cient Board to support cold-water ﬁ sh and other aquatic organisms.

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EXISTING AND HISTORICAL CONDITIONS Aquatic Communities Fish found in the Meeks Creek Watershed, and their distribution, are shown in Table 2 and Figure A-1. Much of the watershed is dominated by non-native salmonids introduced to provide fi shing opportunities for recreational anglers. The most widespread fi sh species in the watershed is the brook trout which is well-known as a generalist species that can adapt to a range of habitat conditions. The once ubiquitous Lahontan cutthroat trout has been extirpated from the watershed due to over-fi shing, loss of habitat, and introduction of non-native fi sh such as brown, brook, and rainbow trout.

Table 2. Fish in the Meeks Creek Watershed Common Name Scientiﬁ c Name Status Distribution Lahontan redside Richardsonius egregious native Lagoon reach Paiute sculpin Cottus beldingii native Lagoon reach Tui chub Gila bicolor native Lagoon reach Tahoe sucker Catostomus tahoensis native Lagoon and meadow reaches Mountain whiteﬁ sh Prosopium williamsoni native Lower watershed Speckled dace Rhinichthys osculus native Lagoon and meadow reaches Rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss introduced Lower watershed Brown trout Salmo trutta introduced Throughout; except for headwaters Kokanee salmon Oncorhynchus nerka introduced Lagoon reach Brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis introduced Throughout

The watershed can be divided into four sections that display different physical habitat conditions for ﬁ sh: lagoon reach, lower meadow reach, remaining high gradient portion of the lower watershed, and upper watershed. Each of these segments can be described as follows:

Lagoon Reach: The lagoon reach consists of the historic and current wetlands and stream corridor that occur from the shore of Lake Tahoe upstream to the Highway 89 crossing. This area has seen the most impact from human land use. Lagoon systems around Lake Tahoe have been well documented to be highly productive ecological systems as they are often rich in nutrients, have high habitat diversity, and are at the center of ecological interactions between lacustrine and riverine environments. Lagoons also act as buffers for pollutants and sediment loads entering Lake Tahoe. The lagoon reach is the most diverse area of the watershed in terms of number of species. The low gradient, potential for calm backwater areas, and connection to Lake Tahoe allow for minnows, suckers, sculpins, and adfl uvial species such as rainbow trout and kokanee salmon to persist. A passage barrier occurs at the Highway 89 culvert crossing that appears to be depth barrier at low fl ows and a velocity barrier at high fl ows.

A-4 ecological system science hydrology + geomorphology restoration engineering regulatory compliance 0 3/8 3/4 1.5 Miles 1:47,520 LEGEND N HIGHWAYS STREETS / ROADS LAKE / POND MEEKS CREEK MAINSTEM REACH BREAKS 89 FISH SPECIES BROOK TROUT BROWN TROUT MOUNTAIN WHITEFISH RAINBOW TROUT SPECKLED DACE TAHOE SUCKER KOKANEELAKE TUI CHUB TAHOE LAHONTAN REDSIDE PAIUT SCULPIN

LAKE TAHOE

89 EMERALD BAY

SWANSON HYDROLOGY + GEOMORPHOLOGY FIGURE A-1: Map of ﬁ sh species occurence in Meeks Creek. 500 Seabright Ave, Suite 202 Santa Cruz, CA 95062 GIS data source: USFS LTBMU PH 831.427.0288 FX 831.427.0472 SWANSON HYDROLOGY + GEOMORPHOLOGY

Lower Meadow Reach: The lower meadow reach consists of the portion of the watershed that is upstream of Highway 89 and downstream of a series of cascades and small waterfalls that occurs near the wilderness boundary. This reach consists of a meandering channel across a wide valley fl oor and fl oodplain, dominated by pools and low gradient riffl es. There are multiple side and backwater channels and the area is heavily infl uenced by the presence of beaver. The species composition through this reach is very similar to the downstream reach except for kokanee, tui chub, lahontan redside, and paite sculpin. These species may either prefer habitat conditions that are restricted to the lagoon or have been impacted by the presence of the barrier at Highway 89.

High Gradient Lower Watershed: This are typifi es a high gradient mountain stream with shallow bedrock, pool-riffl e sequences, pools isolated between short cascades, and high fl ow velocities. The upstream end of this channel segment can arbitrarily be made at the downstream end of the series of lakes that dominates the upper watershed. Through this reach, the remaining fi sh species are all salmonids, which are adapted to fast moving fl ow conditions and drift feeding.

Upper Watershed: The upper watershed can be characterized by short segments of stream dominated by the presence of glacially formed lakes. The segments of channel that are present resemble those found in the downstream reach but the extensive series of lakes provides the habitat context for this reach. This reach receives the most ﬁ shing pressure from recreational users of Desolation Wilderness for day hiking or overnight camping. The only ﬁ sh species found in the upper watershed are brown and brook trout.

Aquatic Habitat In the last TRPA threshold update (TRPA 2001), the 6.5 miles of resident and migratory habitat in the Meeks Creek Watershed was classiﬁ ed as good to excellent (score of 49 with 47.5 representing the boundary between good and excellent). Since TRPA threshold updates do not provide adequate detail to address variability in habitat within the river system, these data are not informative about the differences in habitat conditions below and above Highway 89.

Regardless, the TRPA analysis suggests that conditions in the watershed are adequate so as to support development and maintenance of physical habitat that in turn supports the ﬁ sh species through their various life stages, including spawning, rearing, and over-wintering. Since much of the watershed is in relatively good condition and protected within a federally designated wilderness area, this section of the report will focus on habitat conditions and opportunities for improvement within the meadow and lagoon reaches.

Habitat conditions in the lagoon reach have been signifi cantly altered from the turn of 20th century to the present. These have included watershed impacts, such as logging, modifi cation to the lake level, grazing, and introduction of non-native fi shes, to localized impacts such as

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development of recreation and boating facilities at the mouth and construction of the Highway 89 crossing. Each of these land use changes has had a signiﬁ cant cumulative impact on the ecology of the lagoon system by altering the hydrology, reducing habitat complexity and productivity, and creating impediments to ﬁ sh migration.

To assess habitat conditions in the meadow reach, we conducted a fi eld study to compare physical habitat between Meeks Creek, Blackwood Creek, and the Upper Truckee River. The key habitat variables that were assessed included wetted width and depth, cover, and the amount of large woody material that was present. These habitat variables, and the resulting metrics calculated from the data, have been shown to be good indicators of habitat quality. Low width to depth ratios are typically found in meadow streams with good bank stability, direct access to fl oodplain habitat, undercut banks, and overhanging vegetation. Conversely, meadow streams with high width to depth ratios often have shallow habitat and lack adequate channel and bank stability to support good fi sh habitat.

The fi eld study consisted of selecting a study reach within each of the three watersheds to assess channel geometry and habitat characteristics identifi ed as important in infl uencing stream ecology (Figure A-2). The method used to collect appropriate channel and habitat characteristics was modifi ed from a monitoring approach developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA, 2004). The method used is meant to rapidly characterize habitat conditions by collecting data for a thalweg profi le, woody debris desnity, channel and riparian characterization, and channel description.

A representative reach of stream is chosen within each study area and divided into 10 equally spaced reach segments with a reach length that approximates 1000 feet. A longitudinal profi le of the thalweg is measured and cross-sections are surveyed at 11 equally spaced points along the study reach. Habitat cover for fi sh and a large woody material tally is conducted within the vicinity of each transect location. Wetted width and depth is also measured at 10 intermediate points equally spaced between each major transect. The results from this analysis suggest that habitat conditions for fi sh, based on measured indicators, are signifi cantly better in the Meeks meadow reach as compared to surveyed areas in the Blackwood and Upper Truckee watershed.

Wetted width, wetted depth, and the associated width to depth ratio for Meeks, Upper Truckee, and Blackwood are shown in Figures A-3-5. These results suggest that the stream channel on Meeks is relatively narrow and deep as compared to Upper Truckee and Blackwood. Since channel geometry can often be inﬂ uenced by other independent variables such as drainage area, a width to depth ratio con be calculated, providing a normalized metric. Using a width to depth ratio as a normalized metric to compare differences in channel geometry and associated habitat characteristics, it is clear that conditions on Meeks are signiﬁ cantly different than those found on Blackwood and Upper Truckee. The low width to depth ratio exhibited in Meeks suggests that Meeks has stable banks, can potentially support undercutting, and contains deep pools, runs, and areas backwatered by beaver dams.

A-7 ecological system science hydrology + geomorphology restoration engineering regulatory compliance Blackwood Creek

Lake Tahoe

Meeks Creek (Lower Meadow area above Hwy 89)

Upper Truckee River

SWANSON HYDROLOGY + GEOMORPHOLOGY FIGURE A-2: Location map of stream survey sites Lake Tahoe, CA. 500 Seabright Ave, Suite 202 Santa Cruz, CA 95062 PH 831.427.0288 FX 831.427.0472 50

Maximum Value 40

84th Percentile 30

Mean

16th 20 Percentile Stream Width (ft) Width Stream

Minimum Value

0 0123456Meeks Creek Blackwood Creek Upper Truckee River (Lower Meadow Area above Hwy 89)

SWANSON HYDROLOGY + GEOMORPHOLOGY FIGURE A-3: Diagram showing statistical distribution of stream width values measured at Meeks Creek (Lower Meadow Area 500 Seabright Ave, Suite 202 Santa Cruz, CA 95062 above hwy 89), Blackwood Creek, and Upper Truckee River during 2004 surveys. PH 831.427.0288 FX 831.427.0472 5

Maximum Value

84th Percentile

Mean

2 Stream Depth (ft) Depth Stream 16th Percentile

1 Minimum Value

0 012345678Meeks Creek Blackwood Creek Upper Truckee River (Lower Meadow Area above Hwy 89)

SWANSON HYDROLOGY + GEOMORPHOLOGY FIGURE A-4: Diagram showing statistical distribution of stream depth values measured at Meeks Creek (Lower Meadow Area above hwy 89), 500 Seabright Ave, Suite 202 Santa Cruz, CA 95062 Blackwood Creek, and Upper Truckee River during 2004 surveys. PH 831.427.0288 FX 831.427.0472 80

Maximum Value 60

84th Percentile 30 StreamWidth / Depth (ft) / Depth StreamWidth

Mean 20

16th 10 Percentile Minimum Value 0 012345678Meeks Creek Blackwood Creek Upper Truckee River (Lower Meadow Area above Hwy 89)

SWANSON HYDROLOGY + GEOMORPHOLOGY FIGURE A-5: Diagram showing statistical distribution of stream width/depth ratio values measured at Meeks Creek (Lower Meadow Area 500 Seabright Ave, Suite 202 Santa Cruz, CA 95062 above hwy 89), Blackwood Creek, and Upper Truckee River during 2004 surveys. PH 831.427.0288 FX 831.427.0472 SWANSON HYDROLOGY + GEOMORPHOLOGY

A direct measure of habitat quality can be gained by estimating the aerial extent and diversity of cover available to fi sh. Cover is defi ned as any object that provides a place to hide for fi sh and includes fi lamentous algae, macrophytes, large woody material, small woody material, live trees or roots, overhanging vegetation, undercut banks, boulders, and artifi cial structures. Though it does not directly measure the complexity of the cover habitat present, several types of cover provide more complexity including woody material, undercut banks, and live trees or roots.

Cover is measured by estimating the aerial extent of the cover available as a percentage of the total water surface. Open water is therefore defi ned as habitat area that does not provide any cover opportunities for fi sh. Figure A-6 summarizes the results of the cover survey for Meeks, Blackwood, and Upper Truckee. What becomes apparent from this analysis is that Blackwood provides the poorest and least complex cover habitat of the three. Comparing Meeks and Upper Truckee, both provide a range of cover types suggesting high cover complexity available to fi sh in both systems, with Meeks providing more cover (an average of 60% of each habitat area surveyed provides cover habitat) with the largest cover classes coming from undercut banks and woody material.

These results are consistent with the results compiled for the woody material tally portion of the assessment. Figure A-7 shows the results of this analysis. For almost all dimensions and lengths of woody material, Meeks has the highest densities, as compared to Blackwood and Upper Truckee. The quantity of woody material within a stream system not only improves cover habitat, wood stores sediment in the channel, creates variability in ﬂ ow and velocity vectors, scours pools, and encourages sorting of bedload material. Cumulatively, all of these functions make woody material an important element in maintaining a properly functioning ecosystem.

Lahontan Cutthroat Trout Recovery The combination of habitat loss, changes in water quality conditions, and introduction of non-native salmonids and warm water predatory fi sh has resulted in extirpation or signifi cant reduction in the native fi sh species found in the Lake Tahoe and its tributaries. The Lahontan cutthroat trout (LCT) was listed as an endangered species in 1970 under the Federal Endangered Species Act. To facilitate restoration and allow limited catch and release angling, the LCT was reclassifi ed as threatened in 1975. Since then, several efforts have been launched to plan for and implement projects to return LCT to its native range, though none of those efforts currently include reintroduction of LCT to Meeks Creek.

If the Meeks Creek watershed is eventually added to a list of potential areas for LCT recovery, the watershed would require monitoring to evaluate the success of reintroduction. To determine the future success of any future reintroduction and recovery programs, the Truckee River Basin Recovery Implementation Team (TRBRIT) developed a set of success criteria that include the following (TRBRIT, 2003):

A-12 ecological system science hydrology + geomorphology restoration engineering regulatory compliance Macrophytes Brush / Wood Upper Truckee River Cover Filamentous Algae Blackwood Stream Cover 5% 5% Filamentous Algae Woody Debris 5% Macrophytes 0% 0% Overhanging Vegetation 0% 0% Artificial Structuures Woody Debris 0% 5% Undercut Banks Brush / Wood 0% 5% Boulders 0% Live Trees or Roots 5% Live Trees or Roots 0% Overhanging Vegetation 5% Meeks Creek Stream Cover Undercut Banks 5% (Lower Meadow Area above Boulders Hwy 89) 0% Meeks Stream Cover Filamentous Algae Artificial Structures 0% Open Water 0% 70% Macrophytes 5%

Open Water Upper Truckee River 90% Woody Debris 20% Stream Cover Blackwood Creek Stream Cover Open Water 40%

Brush / Wood 5% Live Trees or Roots 0% Overhanging Vegetation 5%

Artificial Structures 0% Boulders Undercut Banks 5% 20%

SWANSON HYDROLOGY + GEOMORPHOLOGY FIGURE A-6: Pie charts illustrating percent of each cover type surveyed at Meeks Creek (Lower Meadow Area above hwy 89), Blackwood 500 Seabright Ave, Suite 202 Santa Cruz, CA 95062 Creek, and Upper Truckee River. PH 831.427.0288 FX 831.427.0472 In Channel Wood Tally

50 45.5

45 LEGEND

MEEKS CREEK (Lower Meadow Area above Hwy 89) 40 l

e BLACKWOOD CREEK n n

a UPPER TRUCKEE RIVER

h 35 c

f o

d 27 r 30 a y

0 0 1

25 21.9 r 21 e p

y l l 20 a

T 16.5

d o o 15 W 10 10

4.5 5 3 1.8 2 2 2.1 1.2 1 1.51.2 1.5 0.9 000.5 00000.3 0.5 0 0-1 foot 1-2 foot 2-3 foot 0-1 foot 1-2 foot 2-3 foot 0-1 foot 1-2 foot 2-3 foot Log0-15, Diameters 0-1Log 0-15,Diameters 1-2Log Diameters 0-15, 2-3Log Diameters 15-45, 0-1Log Diameters 15-45, 1-2Log Diameters 15-45, 2-3Log Diameters 45-60, 0-1Log Diameters 45-60,Log 1-2 Diameters 45-60, 2-3 0-15 foot Log Lengths 15-45 foot Log Lengths 45-60 foot Log Lengths

SWANSON HYDROLOGY + GEOMORPHOLOGY FIGURE A-7: In-channel Wood Talley comparison between Meeks Creek (Lower Meadow Area above hwy 89), Blackwood Creek, and Upper 500 Seabright Ave, Suite 202 Santa Cruz, CA 95062 Truckee River Survey Reaches. PH 831.427.0288 FX 831.427.0472 SWANSON HYDROLOGY + GEOMORPHOLOGY

• A self-sustaining, networked LCT population is established, composed of wild, indigenous strains, in streams, lakes, mainstem and tributaries of the Truckee River and Lake Tahoe Basins.

• Physical connectivity exists between spawning and rearing habitats in lakes, mainstem and tributaries of the Truckee River basin to support natural LCT reproduction and recruitment and restore self-sustaining lacustrine LCT in the Truckee River and Lake Tahoe Basins.

• A self-sustaining lacustrine population shall be considered to be naturally reproducing with a stable age-class structure consisting of at least four year classes and a stable or increasing population size with documented reproduction and recruitment. These conditions must be demonstrated to have been met for a minimum period of 20 years.

• Water is obtained through water right purchases or other means to protect and secure a stable Pyramid Lake ecosystem and meet life history and habitat requirements of LCT.

• A commitment is secured to develop and maintain opportunities for ﬁ sh passage within the basin in a manner that facilitates migration and reproductive behavior of LCT.

• Threats to LCT and its habitat have been reduced or modiﬁ ed to a point where they no longer represent a threat of extinction or irreversible population decline.

The U.S. Forest Service, USFWS, California Department of Fish & Game, and other government agencies and non-proﬁ ts will continue to implement recovery projects based on the direction of the TRBRIT planning document and the USFWS LCT Recovery Plan until these criteria are met.

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Appendix B. Vegetation Survey of Meeks Creek Watershed

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