Tonto National Forest Plan Revision Stream Restoration Field Trip Wednesday, May 2, 2018 | Haigler Creek and Canyon Creek (Near Young, AZ)
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Tonto National Forest Plan Revision Stream Restoration Field Trip Wednesday, May 2, 2018 | Haigler Creek and Canyon Creek (near Young, AZ) Co-Convened by the US Forest Service, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, and Trout Unlimited Overview of the Field Trip The stream restoration field trip brought together staff and partners of the Tonto National Forest (TNF) to discuss the future management of streams across the forest. It was co- convened by the Tonto National Forest, Arizona Game and Fish Department, and Trout Unlimited. The following were the field trip objectives: Establish a shared understanding of stream restoration as a tool to achieve desired conditions. Share examples of successful projects and the range of effective tools and techniques. Identify how partners can support the TNF in achieving desired conditions for streams. The field trip took place at restoration sites along Haigler Creek, with an optional stop at Canyon Creek (near Young, AZ). Agenda 9:00AM Stop 1: Alderwood Campground (Introduction and desired conditions) Introductions – All participants Logistics – Southwest Decision Resources Overview of stream restoration in the new Forest Plan – Kenna Belsky, Grant Loomis, and Robert Madera, Tonto National Forest o Definition and context of desired conditions o Other efforts (4FRI, etc.), and how they relate to the Forest Plan Introduction to the Haigler Creek restoration project – Curt Gill, AZ Game and Fish Dept; Grant Loomis, Tonto National Forest Discussion: Desired conditions applicable to sites across the Tonto National Forest 11:00AM Stop 2: Haigler Canyon Campground (Successful methods and approaches) Examples of other successful projects/efforts: o Canyon Creek (passive and active restoration) – Curt Gill and Kelly Wolff- Krauter, AZ Game and Fish Dept. o Dude Creek (Gila Trout reintroduction) – Nate Rees, Trout Unlimited o Cherry Creek (channel stability) – Allen Haden, Natural Channel Design Discussion: Methods and outcomes that the Tonto National Forest (and partners) should aim for in future restoration projects Lunch – Participants provide their own 1:00PM Stop 3: Bridge site (Multiple uses and management actions) Overview of the site and the effects of the bridge – Grant Loomis and Mike Martinez, Tonto National Forest Narrative on possible management actions to be done – Alan Haden, Natural Channel Design o 4FRI Flexible Toolbox for Aquatics – Joe Miller, Trout Unlimited; Kelly Wolff, AZ Game and Fish Dept. o Efforts to engage in: . East Verde headwaters . Salt River . Water rights – USFS has filed for instream flow rights on Haigler Creek Discussion: What actions could be taken to bring this site to meet the Desired Conditions identified earlier? What partners should we engage into the future for stream restoration? Wrap-up: In what ways could you or other partners be involved in helping the TNF to achieve desired conditions? Adjourn, or go to optional stop at Canyon Creek 3:00PM Stop 4 (Optional): Canyon Creek Drive to Canyon Creek to see an example of a different restoration project. No formal presentation. Discussion: A restoration project that was completed 2 years ago. How has the site matured since then? (Including exclosure) STOP 1: Alderwood Campground The first stop was Alderwood Campground, where participants introduced themselves, and the co-conveners provided an overview of the context of Forest Plan Revision in stream restoration. Participants also provided input on the desired conditions that can be applied across projects on diverse streams. Overview of Restoration in the New Forest Plan, and Other Projects Tonto National Forest - The TNF is in the process of writing a new Forest Plan, which provides direction for management actions across all resources on the Forest. This field trip will inform the TNF Planning team on Desired Conditions and other aspects of the new Forest Plan. AZGFD - began the NEPA process for Mogollon stream restoration projects in 2005. The work has focused on popular trout fishing streams degraded by flooding, fire, and recreation. As a result of this project, the following streams have been restored: Tonto (2008), Christopher (winter 2017), Canyon (May 2017), Haigler (May 2017). Upcoming projects, depending on funding and watershed stability, include: o East Verde River – waiting on NEPA and funding. o Dude Creek – restoration work and augmentation of Gila trout population. Restoration actors o Agencies: Arizona Game and Fish, and Tonto National Forest o Contractors: Natural Channel Design and others o Funding: Arizona Game and Fish with Watershed Condition Framework funding. Questions If a stream has no brook or rainbow trout due to flooding, would AZGFD prefer to add native species? o AZGFD: If the stream can support them we prefer to use native species, e.g., Gila trout, desert suckers, longfin dace. What is the livestock management along this stream? There are fences around the area suggesting exclusion of livestock but cow pies are within the area. o TNF: We will follow up with Chandler Mundy, the Rangeland Specialist, on that question. There are fence maintenance and illegal cutting issues here. The Forest Service is supposed to inspect fences and cattle growers are supposed to fix them, except in the case of exclosures. There is a network of users who stays in touch with the Forest regarding fence incidences. Desired Conditions – Grant Loomis, Tonto National Forest Desired Conditions are the lofty vision statement components of the Forest Plan. The Forest Plan describes properly functioning watersheds as having good soil conditions, peak flows the stream can handle, and base flows during low flow times. o An assessment of watersheds on the TNF studied indicators such as the number of roads, fires, and aquatic and terrestrial invasive species. Half of the watersheds were functioning and at risk, and many were not functioning. Riparian vegetation desired conditions: structural diversity, multiple age cohorts, herbaceous communities, more than one species of sedge and grass, and species that stabilize the soil. o Terrestrial Ecological Unit Inventory (TEUI) plots are ideally ultimate expressions of the vegetation community and serve as reference points. They are typically chosen in areas with minimal disturbance. Riparian plots are difficult to identify as they are unstable and shifting constantly. o Were these plots in areas grazed by cattle? TNF will follow up. Introduction to the Haigler Creek Restoration Project – Allen Haden, Natural Channel Design Prior to the restoration work in April 2017, the site was severely degraded. The stream was down cut and blown apart after large floods, grazing, and heavy recreation made the stream unable to heal itself. A road dissected the stream, and camping and fishing occurred on both sides. This left the stream muddy and the banks without vegetation. Baseflow was split between the stream and a channel paralleling it such that fish weren’t supported in either channel. Minimal fish habitat existed due to a lack of coverage and a flat and shallow pool. Natural Channel Design’s (NCD) restoration work improved fishery habitat, supported recreation, and met the desired conditions. The approach centered on achieving the most impact while spending the least amount of money in heavily fished areas. A sill was created and planted with willows to maintain baseflow in the creek. Water can enter the channel via subterraneous flow to allow for snake and frog habitat. The pool could not be deepened due to bedrock. Instead, the bank was built out to provide overhead cover for fish. Stomped out banks were sloped and replanted. A stepping stone path was built to direct users to camp sites and help with sediment flow. Log veins were added downstream to slow stream meander and fences repaired. Discussion Typical number of campers at the site is 15. Management should strive to keep cattle out of this area, as the stream is dependent on vegetation. The stream has heavier cobbles that provide some protection from grazing. The 1985 Forest Plan had logic for closing roads in riparian areas, but no guidance exists on communicating which roads are closed to the public. The Travel Management Plan should eliminate this problem. Final Observations This site demonstrates the diversity of conditions along a small section of stream. To have an approach in the plan that considers all of these conditions is challenging. Invasive crayfish are difficult to eradicate. They can be dormant for months below the surface. Plans are only as good as the contractor. TNF needs to vet and monitor contractors. The stream has improved immensely in the past year. Closure to recreation, vehicles, and livestock has allowed the stream to recover. STOP 2: Haigler Canyon Campground The second stop was Haigler Canyon Campground, where partners discussed the methods and techniques used on successful projects (such as Canyon Creek, Cherry Creek, and Dude Creek). Introduction to the Haigler Creek Restoration Project – Allen Haden, Natural Channel Design Similarities exist between the first two stops, as both reaches are lacking fish habitat and the function to carry sediment but are heavily used by recreationists. Limited treatments could be used due to the stream’s inability to carry sediment and to maintain habitat structures. Boulders, log overhangs, and veins were installed for fish habitat. Examples of Other Successful Restoration Projects/Efforts Cherry Creek Project – Grant Loomis, Tonto National Forest Restoration work in 2002 took three months to be completed. There was a big storm in 2005 and the creek maintained its function. A large variation (a few magnitudes of cubic feet per second) exists between base and peak flows in Arizona. As a result, high and dry cobble bars are left after peak flows retreat, creating green vegetation lines at base flow rather than at the bank. Tom Moody, founder of NCD, developed a demonstration project on Cherry Creek to demonstrate successful stream restoration strategies. He recreated a Rosgen C-type stream with shallow elevation up to the flood plain and dependence on riparian vegetation for stabilization.