Whatcom Creek Post-Fire Evaluation – 10 Years After Prepared for: City of Bellingham Department of Public Works Prepared by: R2 Resource Consultants, Inc. 15250 NE 95th Street Redmond, Washington 98052-2518 May 29, 2009 Whatcom Creek Post-Fire Evaluation – 10 Years After Prepared for: City of Bellingham Department of Public Works Prepared by: Susan W. Madsen Tim Nightengale R2 Resource Consultants, Inc. 15250 NE 95th Street Redmond, Washington 98052-2518 May 29, 2009 City of Bellingham Whatcom Creek Post-Fire Report CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................... XIV 1. OVERVIEW .......................................................................................................................... 1-1 2. BIOLOGICAL MONITORING ............................................................................................ 2-1 2.1 VEGETATION .................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1.2 Methods ............................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1.3 Results ................................................................................................................. 2-3 2.1.3.1 Native Trees ............................................................................................ 2-3 2.1.3.2 Invasive Weeds ....................................................................................... 2-9 2.1.4 Discussion .......................................................................................................... 2-11 2.2 FISH COMMUNITY .......................................................................................................... 2-13 2.2.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 2-13 2.2.2 Methods ............................................................................................................. 2-15 2.2.3 Results ............................................................................................................... 2-17 2.2.3.1 Chinook ................................................................................................. 2-17 2.2.3.2 Coho .................................................................................................... 2-18 2.2.3.3 Chum .................................................................................................... 2-19 2.2.3.4 Steelhead ............................................................................................... 2-21 2.2.4 Discussion .......................................................................................................... 2-22 2.3 AQUATIC MACROINVERTEBRATES ................................................................................. 2-23 2.3.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 2-23 2.3.2 Methods ............................................................................................................. 2-25 2.3.2.1 Study Sites ............................................................................................ 2-25 2.3.2.2 Data Sets ............................................................................................... 2-25 2.3.2.3 Laboratory Methods .............................................................................. 2-27 2.3.2.4 Data Analysis ........................................................................................ 2-28 2.3.3 Results ............................................................................................................... 2-29 2.3.3.1 Abundance and Richness Measures ...................................................... 2-31 R2 Resource Consultants, Inc. iii May 29, 2009 1755.01/Whatcom Creek Post-Fire Report_5.29.09 City of Bellingham Whatcom Creek Post-Fire Report 2.3.3.2 Composition Measures .......................................................................... 2-34 2.3.3.3 Functional Feeding Groups ................................................................... 2-38 2.3.3.4 Tolerance Measures .............................................................................. 2-39 2.3.3.5 B-IBI .................................................................................................... 2-43 2.3.4 Discussion .......................................................................................................... 2-48 2.4 RIPARIAN AND TERRESTRIAL WILDLIFE ........................................................................ 2-51 2.4.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 2-51 2.4.2 Methods ............................................................................................................. 2-51 2.4.3 Results ............................................................................................................... 2-54 2.4.3.1 Amphibians/reptiles .............................................................................. 2-54 2.4.3.2 Birds .................................................................................................... 2-54 2.4.3.3 Mammals............................................................................................... 2-57 2.4.4 Discussion .......................................................................................................... 2-57 3. PHYSICAL MONITORING ................................................................................................. 3-1 3.1 HYDROLOGY AND INSTREAM HABITAT ............................................................................ 3-1 3.1.1 Hydrology ............................................................................................................ 3-1 3.1.1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................. 3-1 3.1.1.2 Methods................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.1.3 Results ..................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.1.4 Discussion ............................................................................................... 3-5 3.1.2 Instream Habitat .................................................................................................. 3-6 3.1.2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................. 3-6 3.1.2.2 Methods................................................................................................... 3-7 3.1.2.3 Results ................................................................................................... 3-10 3.1.2.4 Discussion ............................................................................................. 3-17 3.2 SOIL EROSION AND SLOPE STABILITY ............................................................................ 3-17 3.2.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 3-17 3.2.2 Methods ............................................................................................................. 3-17 3.2.3 Results ............................................................................................................... 3-18 3.2.4 Discussion .......................................................................................................... 3-18 3.3 WATER QUALITY ........................................................................................................... 3-18 R2 Resource Consultants, Inc. iv May 29, 2009 1755.01/Whatcom Creek Post-Fire Report_5.29.09 City of Bellingham Whatcom Creek Post-Fire Report 3.3.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 3-18 3.3.2 Methods ............................................................................................................. 3-19 3.3.3 Results ............................................................................................................... 3-21 3.3.3.1 Temperature .......................................................................................... 3-21 3.3.3.2 pH .................................................................................................... 3-23 3.3.3.3 Dissolved Oxygen ................................................................................. 3-24 3.3.3.4 Turbidity ............................................................................................... 3-26 3.3.4 Discussion .......................................................................................................... 3-28 4. PHOTO DOCUMENTATION ............................................................................................ 4-30 4.1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 4-30 4.2 METHODS ....................................................................................................................... 4-30 4.3 RESULTS ......................................................................................................................... 4-30 4.4 DISCUSSION ...................................................................................................................