Case Studies of Riparian and Watershed Restoration in the Southwestern United States—Principles, Challenges, and Successes By Barbara E. Ralston, and Daniel A. Sarr, editors Open-File Report 2017–1091 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover: Repeat photographs of Bonita Bend in Stillwater Canyon of the Green River in Utah. The inset photograph was taken in 1871 by E.O. Beaman (USGS) and the larger photograph was taken by Robert Webb (USGS) in 2012. The channel has narrowed over time. Riparian vegetation includes a mixture of saltcedar (Tamarix sp.) in the foreground and cottonwoods (Populus sp.) farther inland. Case Studies of Riparian and Watershed Restoration in the Southwestern United States—Principles, Challenges, and Successes By Barbara E. Ralston, and Daniel A. Sarr, editors Open-File Report 2017–1091 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior RYAN K. ZINKE, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey William H. Werkheiser, Acting Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2017 For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment—visit https://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS (1–888–275–8747) For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit https://store.usgs.gov. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner. The contributions by non-U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) authors in this volume are published as they were submitted. Contributions authored entirely by non-USGS authors do not represent the views or position of the USGS or the U.S. Government and are published solely as part of this volume. Suggested citation: Ralston, B.E., and Sarr, D.A., 2017, Case studies of riparian and watershed restoration in the southwestern United States—Principles, challenges, and successes: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2017-1091, 116 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/20171091. ISSN 2331-1258 (online) ii Acknowledgments Funds from the WaterSMART program within the Ecosystems Mission Area of the U.S. Geological Survey supported both the workshop and the publication of this report. iii Contents Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................................................... iii Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 1 Referenced Cited ....................................................................................................................................... 3 Section I. Restoration Principles and Approaches ......................................................................................... 5 Restoration Principles for Riparian Ecosystem Resilience ............................................................................. 5 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 5 Landscape and Watershed Context ........................................................................................................... 5 Ecological Resilience ................................................................................................................................. 6 Restoration Principles – Protect, Reconnect, Restore (processes first) ..................................................... 6 Discussion .................................................................................................................................................. 7 References Cited ....................................................................................................................................... 7 Section II. Local Scale Revegetation Projects ............................................................................................. 10 Use of the Biophysical Template for Riparian Restoration and Revegetation in the Southwest .................. 10 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 10 Landscape and Watershed Context ......................................................................................................... 10 Understanding the Biophysical Site Template .......................................................................................... 11 Using the Biophysical Site Template: Site Design and Implementation ................................................... 12 Dealing with Changing and Challenging Conditions: Adaptive Management and Monitoring .................. 12 Lessons Learned...................................................................................................................................... 13 References Cited ..................................................................................................................................... 13 Riparian Restoration in the Context of 21st Century Hydrology ................................................................... 18 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 18 Methods ................................................................................................................................................... 18 Results and Discussion ............................................................................................................................ 19 Lessons Learned...................................................................................................................................... 20 References Cited ..................................................................................................................................... 20 The Reality of Climate Change and the Need for Genetics Approaches in Riparian, River and Watershed Restoration to Maintain Biodiversity in Changing Environments .................................................................. 22 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 22 Methods ................................................................................................................................................... 22 Results and Discussion ............................................................................................................................ 23 Lessons Learned...................................................................................................................................... 24 References Cited ..................................................................................................................................... 25 Riparian Rehabilitation along the Colorado River: Successes and Challenges of a Pilot Project ................ 28 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 28 Methods ................................................................................................................................................... 28 Results and Discussion ............................................................................................................................ 29 Lessons Learned...................................................................................................................................... 31 References Cited ..................................................................................................................................... 31 Riparian restoration following tamarisk and Russian olive control in Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona ........................................................................................................................................................ 32 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 32 Methods ................................................................................................................................................... 32 iv Results & Discussion ............................................................................................................................... 33 Lessons Learned...................................................................................................................................... 34 References Cited ..................................................................................................................................... 34 Riparian and Wetland Restoration Effects on Bird and Butterfly Communities on the Colorado River ........ 37 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 37 Methods ..................................................................................................................................................