Tillicum Fan Habitat Restoration Concepts Report SUBMIttED TO Yakama Nation Fisheries MaRCh 2017 Tillicum Fan Habitat Restoration Concepts Report MaC R h 2017 SUBMIttED TO Yakama Nation Fisheries 401 Fort Road Toppenish, Wa PREPARED BY Inter-Fluve, Inc. 501 Portway ave, Suite 101 hood River, OR 97031 (541) 386-9003 Tillicum Fan Habitat Restoration Concepts Report Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 1 Overview .......................................................................................................................................... 1 Project Area Description ................................................................................................................... 1 Goals and objectives ........................................................................................................................ 2 Regional Habitat Objectives and Priorities ........................................................................................... 2 SITE CONDITIONS AND ANALYSIS ......................................................................................................... 3 Site Survey and Data Collection ........................................................................................................ 3 Geomorphology ............................................................................................................................... 6 Hydrology ........................................................................................................................................ 7 Hydraulic Modeling .......................................................................................................................... 8 PRELIMINARY DESIGN CRITERIA ........................................................................................................... 9 Habitat .................................................................................................................................................. 9 Geomorphology/Hydrology .................................................................................................................. 9 Engineering and Risk ............................................................................................................................. 9 Construction Impacts .......................................................................................................................... 10 CONCEPT DESIGNS ............................................................................................................................. 10 Concept 1: Fan Swale Extending to Mad River ................................................................................ 12 Concept 2: Short Fan Swale Extending to Mad River Relic Channel ................................................. 13 Concept 3: Long Fan Swale Extending to Mad River Relic Channel .................................................. 14 Designer’s notes on configurations ................................................................................................. 14 REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................................... 15 Attachments – Plans and estimates Appendix 1 – Stream substrate pebble count data Appendix 2 – Stream hydrology Appendix 3 – Hydraulic modeling output i Tillicum Fan Habitat Restoration Concepts Report 1. Introduction OVERVIEW This report presents field investigations and development of concepts for opportunities to enhance stream processes and aquatic habitat at the Tillicum Creek Fan project area. The project proposes to improve stream processes and riparian conditions to enhance aquatic habitats for Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss). PROJECT AREA DESCRIPTION Tillicum Creek is a tributary to the Mad River at River Mile 1.92, approximately 10 miles northwest of Entiat, in Chelan County, Washington, near the intersections of Mad River Road (119A) and Forest Service Roads 5700 and 5800. The Mad River is tributary to the Entiat River near the unincorporated community of Ardenvoir. Tillicum Creek has formed an alluvial fan that terminates along 560 feet of the Mad River and extends up the Tillicum Valley 700 feet where Tillicum Creek flows out of a confined valley and expands radially across the wider fan surface. The fan is bounded on both sides by steep valley walls. Forest Road 5800 runs along the toe of the north valley wall and Tillicum Creek runs along the toe of the south valley wall. The project area of Tillicum Creek and fan and right bank of Mad River encompasses approximately 3.57 acres. The entire project area is located on land owned by the U.S. Forest Service. Tillicum Creek is entrenched and confined in some locations by a levee, preventing hydrologic connection to the full width of the historic fan limits. The fan is predominantly open field that is grazed seasonally. The banks of Tillicum Creek and Mad River are vegetated with riparian trees. March 2017 1 Tillicum Fan Habitat Restoration Concepts Report Figure 1. Location of the Tillicum Creek watershed and the project area. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES Regional Habitat Objectives and Goals Regional objectives for salmonid habitat protection and restoration in the Upper Columbia Region have been evaluated and summarized in the document A Biological Strategy to Protect and Restore Salmonid Habitat in the Upper Columbia Region (2014) by the Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board (UCSRB) Regional Technical Team (RTT). This Biological Strategy is part of the Upper Columbia Spring Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Recovery Plan (UCSRB 2007). It recommends region‐wide biological considerations and approaches for salmonid habitat restoration and protection actions. The RTT guides the development and evaluation of salmonid recovery projects within the Upper Columbia Region. The Biological Strategy has identified several assessment units within the Entiat River watershed, including the Mad River assessment unit which includes the Tillicum Creek fan project area. The Mad River is a Tier II priority and the project area is within an area known to provide spawning and rearing habitat for steelhead and rearing habitat for spring Chinook. March 2017 2 Tillicum Fan Habitat Restoration Concepts Report The Biological Strategy notes factors affecting habitat conditions to include historical sheep grazing and timber harvest practices, which have both increased upland erosion and sediment delivery to the stream. Further, the Mad River Road constricts the main stem channel at the project area. Ecological concerns include: Channel structure and form Sediment conditions Riparian conditions Food Habitat quantity. The primary project goal is to improve stream process and associated habitats along the Tillicum Fan by creating improved hydrologic connectivity of Tillicum Creek with its fan, and Mad River with its floodplain, along the distal end of the Tillicum fan. Improved stream processes will enhance habitat complexity, create wetland and riparian vegetative communities, and possibly access to ground water inflow. 2. Site Conditions & Analysis SITE SURVEY AND DATA COLLECTION Topographic and bathymetric data were collected October 2, 2016 using total station survey equipment. The data collection focused on capturing channel cross sections for hydraulic modeling, as well as topography of the fan for mapping and concept designs. Temporary benchmarks were placed throughout the project site for future reference. Survey is based on a project relative datum. March 2017 3 Tillicum Fan Habitat Restoration Concepts Report Figure 2. Looking downstream (east) at Tillicum fan. Tillicum Creek along right edge. Mad River along far end of field. Five soil pits were excavated on the Tillicum Fan on November 8, 2016 at locations shown on Figure 3. Soil profiles were documented by Inter‐Fluve staff and reported in a separate memorandum. Soils generally consist of fine soils of varying depths over gravel and cobble and are dry or have low rates of groundwater inflow. Perforated PVC piezometers with water level data loggers were installed in Pits 1 through 4. Data loggers will be downloaded in the spring of 2017. March 2017 4 Tillicum Fan Habitat Restoration Concepts Report Figure 3. Locations of 2016 soil pits Soil types mapped by the USDA NRCS are fine loam in the valley (Figure 4). The two primary soil types in the Tillicum Fan project area include: #37 ‐ Billyridge gravelly sandy loam, which is a well‐drained soil that forms in alluvial fans; and, #33 ‐ Ardenvoir stony fine sandy loam which is a well‐drained soil that is generally formed by colluvium parent material from adjacent mountain slopes. March 2017 5 Tillicum Fan Habitat Restoration Concepts Report Figure 4. NRCS soils types within the Tillicum fan area (USDA NRCS 2017). GEOMORPHOLOGY The Tillicum Creek and fan is confined by valley wall along the south edge and Forest Road 5800 and valley wall along the north edge. The basal end of fan is about 700 feet upstream of the confluence with the Mad River. The distal end of the fan is the right bank of the Mad River. With few exceptions, riparian vegetation is robust along the banks of Tillicum Creek and the Mad River. The Tillicum fan surface is former pasture and currently fenced. Figures 2 and 3 provide an overview of site conditions. Tillicum