Geronimo's Cave Irrigation Diversion Repair on the East Fork of the White

Fish Passage Project:

Geronimo's Cave Irrigation Diversion Repair

on the East Fork of the White River on the

Fort Apache Indian Reservation, Arizona

Submitted by:

Leslie Ruiz, Project Coordinator Arizona Fishery Resources Office-Pinetop P.O. Box 39 Pinetop, Arizona 85935 520.367.1953

August 2000

Document No.: USFWS-AZFRO-PT-00-020 Introduction The East Fork of the White River, a tributary of the Salt River, is located on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation (Reservation), home of the White Mountain Apache Tribe (Tribe). The river originates from Mount Baldy at 11,403 feet in the Mount Baldy Wilderness Area of the Reservation, and flows 18 miles to the confluence with the North Fork of the White River, elevation 5200 feet, near Fort Apache, Arizona. The watershed drains 138 square miles and is within the Gila River Basin. The East Fork of the White River is habitat to numerous aquatic and riparian species, including the threatened Apache trout Oncorhynchus apache and loach minnow Rhinichthys cobitis, and other native fishes including desert sucker Pantosteus clarkii, Sonora sucker Catostomus insignis, and speckled dace Rhinichthys osculus. The Tribe currently manages the river for the protection of sensitive, federally threatened, and native species, as well as an Apache trout recreational fishery.

In addition to the river being an important fishery, the Tribe depends upon the river to provide water for agriculture. Throughout the lower reaches of the river there are numerous irrigation diversions. Routine annual repair and maintenance of these diversions is conducted by the Land Operations Division of the Tribal Public Works Department. The repair and maintenance of these diversions requires removal of blockages formed by gravel bars and debris and replacement of displaced diversion boulders. This activity generally restores water flow to the irrigation ditch inlet structures and provides a more consistent source of water to irrigate agricultural fields on the reservation.

However, there is concern that a few of these irrigation diversions could prevent upstream movement of fish during certain flow regimes (Figures 1-2). In an attempt to alleviate this concern, the Tribe's Watershed Program, Hydrology Department, and Wildlife and Outdoor Recreation Division coordinated with the Land Operations Division and consulted with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Arizona Fishery Resources Office-Pinetop in a restoration project that should improve fish movement through the diversion and stabilize stream banks that were degraded.

The Project In the spring of 1998, a plan to redesign the diversion was drafted by the Tribe, Land Operations Division, and Arizona Fishery Resources Office-Pinetop. The Tribe's Watershed Program and Hydrology Department, Land Operations Division, and Arizona Fishery Resources Office-Pinetop designed a version of a cross vane weir. In addition to the weir, root-wad revetments were planned for the eroded bank. The cross vane weir shape was selected for the purpose of directing water flow through the irrigation ditch, but also away from the streambanks. The plan was reviewed and approved by all participants, permits and environmental clearance were obtained, and the project was scheduled.

1 FIGURE 1. Prior to redesign, the irrigation FIGURE 2. Turbid water flowing through diversion at Geronimo's Cave on the East Fork and around the irrigation diversion at of the White River, Fort Apache Indian Geronimo's Cave on the East Fork of the White Reservation, Arizona, 1998. Note the eroded River, Fort Apache Indian Reservation, Arizona, stream banks. 1998.

In November 1998 the project was initiated. The Watershed Program and Hydrology Department were responsible for oversight of the project. The Arizona Fishery Resources Office-Pinetop conducted electrofishing surveys in the area prior to the onset of diversion repairs and bank stabilization. Trout were the only species collected in the immediate vicinity of the restoration area.

The Watershed Program conducted follow-up revegetation efforts, including transplanting of sedges (Carex senta) and cattails (Typha latifolia), as well as reseeding with native wetland plants. Many of the transplants appeared to be thriving, and seedlings have been observed. Some of the planted cottonwood trees were ravaged by beavers, but others are continuing to grow.

The Watershed Program and Hydrology Department recruited a tribal member to evaluate irrigation diversions along the East Fork of the White River as part of a summer internship. A variety of measurements were collected at several of the diversions, including Geronimo's Cave, in an effort to prioritize sites for rehabilitation and to improve designs. Preliminary findings suggest that the redesign of Geronimo's Cave diversion has important benefits for maintaining natural channel morphology. Particular signs of improvement include:

1) The change in channel gradient is less dramatic than at other diversions. 2) No braiding is occurring upstream of the channel, unlike at other diversions. 3) There is no scour pool below the diversion, unlike at other diversions. 4) There is no bank erosion occurring around the diversion, unlike in the past.

2 In another research project tribal cultural advisors have examined the project. They have responded enthusiastically to the new design and the general appearance of the restored channel.

The streambanks were reinforced with multiple revetments comprised primarily of ponderosa pine trees (Figures 3-4). Multiple channels were dug in the bank. The trees were placed longitudinally within the channels, with the root wad directed toward the flow of the water. This design deflects water away from, and slows water flow near, the eroded bank. Native willow and grass species were planted along the bank.

The Land Operations Division conducted all heavy equipment activities. The existing diversion was replaced with the new weir design. "Footer" rocks were seated into the streambed and additional rocks were selected and set in place. The new design provides for delivery of water to the irrigation ditch and re-directs water flow to center of the stream channel and away from eroded banks (Figure 5).

FIGURE 3. Ponderosa pine trees were FIGURE 4. Activities were initiated in winter prepared for placement into the stream banks. 1998 to repair the existing irrigation diversion and stabilize stream banks.

3 FIGURE 5. The new design of the irrigation FIGURE 6. USFWS's Arizona Fishery diversion located at Geronimo's Cave on the Resources Office-Pinetop assists the White East Fork of the White River, Fort Apache Mountain Apache Tribe's Wildlife and Outdoor Indian Reservation, Arizona, should prove to be recreation division in loach minnow surveys on an improvement over the existing diversion and the East Fork White River. provide for improved fish passage and water quality in the area.

Conclusions The redesigned diversion and bank protection features have remained intact through spring and summer runoff events. The vegetation planted at the site appears to be thriving—even some seeds have established. Geomorphic evaluations suggest that the revised design has reduced impacts to the channel (e.g., braiding, downcutting, and bank erosion). The reduced gradient of the diversion and better distribution of flows should improve the ability of fish to negotiate the diversion. Finally, cultural advisors approve of the results of the project.

The Tribe is continuing several initiatives that directly address impacts of diversions on riparian conditions and fish habitat. The evaluation of irrigation diversions will be incorporated into the Watershed Program's ongoing development of a watershed analysis and management plan for the East Fork. This project should be completed with the next year, although early drafts may be available this winter. This plan will include a list of priority sites for addressing impacts of irrigation diversions.

The new irrigation diversion and bank stabilization structures have remained intact through two spring runoff events. Since project completion, annual fishery surveys have been conducted by the Wildlife and Outdoor Recreation Division and the Arizona Fishery Resources Office, as part of the Tribe's Loach Minnow Management Plan (Figure 6). The stream has been returned to the original, no longer eroding the streambanks, therefore, restoring function to this section of the East Fork White River. Future evaluation of the irrigation diversion repair should determine the extent to which the design is improving fish passage.