NOAA Restoration Center OMB Approval No. Community-based Restoration Program (CRP) Expires Progress Report Narrative Format I. Project Title Off-Channel Habitat Enhancement at the Confluence of the Willamette River and Tryon Creek II. Reporting Period Supplemental Final Report - April 1, 2010 – March 1, 2011 III. Project Narrative (this section is required for the final comprehensive report only) Except during large events, lower Tryon Creek was disconnected from its floodplain. The creek was channelized and lined with rock. The primary objective of this project was to enhance critical fish habitat at Tryon Creek’s confluence with the Willamette River. Coho, Chinook, Steelhead and cutthroat have all been found in Tryon Creek in recent years. Through this project, BES expanded shallow water habitat and placed large wood structures on approximately 100 feet of Willamette River shoreline. In the lower 900 feet of Tryon Creek, the project improved channel and floodplain complexity, as well as channel condition and habitat structure. Large wood, boulders and streambed material were added to increase channel roughness and improve channel condition. Floodplain connectivity improved by excavating a portion of the project area, creating a broad floodplain bench along approximately 400 feet of Tryon Creek and laying back the bank along the remainder of the project area. The project also included approximately 3.5 acres of invasive plant management and native revegetation in the surrounding riparian area. Page 1 of 10 IV. Methodology In the spring of 2010, BES awarded a construction contract to Nutter Corporation. Notice to proceed was issued in May 2010. With oversight from BES construction management and inspection staff, Nutter completed the project. BES’s Revegetation Group followed with invasives control and native plantings. BES has also had numerous outreach and education opportunities. On-the ground construction activities that occurred during this period included: • Mobilization and demobilization of equipment and materials • Installation and removal of fencing for tree protection and site security • Installation and removal of erosion control measures • Clearing and grubbing • Removed 14 trees, incorporated in project as feasible and appropriate depending on species and size. • Creek diversion and fish salvage. • Excavation and grading approximately 5000 cubic yards of material • Salvaged and placed boulders • Placed over 100 logs for habitat structures • Constructed fabric-encapsulated soil lifts along lower 900 feet of Tryon Creek bank. • Road repair and paving • Invasives control, seeding and planting. V. Results/Progress to Date BES’s contractor worked from July 2010 – October 2010, completing work within the regulatory in-water work window. BES’s Revegetation Group performed initial invasives control and native planting at various times between November 2010 and February 2011. See above section IV for activities completed. .This project presented several challenges, as follows. • The grant timeline ended before the in-water work timeline. It was difficult to accurately predict how much of the in-water work would be complete in the grant timeline. Timing of fiscal years and in-water periods is a challenge common to many of our grant-funded projects. • During excavation of the floodplain bench and bank-layback, many more large boulders were encountered than anticipated during design. The project team was able to use many of these boulders in the project, rather than purchasing boulders, as had been expected. Boulders that could not be incorporated in the project were given to other stream enhancement projects in the Portland metropolitan area. • BES has had an adaptive management approach to maintenance for projects such as this for some time. A very large storm occurred in December 2010, shortly after construction was complete. It deposited large wood from upstream areas on the newly created floodplain and constricted a portion of the channel. Where the channel constriction occurred, an overflow path developed in the floodplain. The Page 2 of 10 area is being monitored but there does not appear to be a risk to neighboring property or infrastructure, so only minor modifications have been made at this location. • Several neighbors were unaware there were salmonids already in the Willamette River and Tryon Creek. Through our project outreach, they learned they had important habitat at their back doors. Tours and meetings in person gave a better opportunity to make this point than outreach though the mail. VI. Monitoring and Maintenance Activities BES has begun post-project monitoring, including annual visits for photo points, vegetation establishment and macro invertebrate surveys. Fish surveys are done year-round, primarily using the US Fish & Wildlife PIT tag arrays. Adaptive management will take place as needed, based on observation of how the creek responds to the changes made and risk. This may include such activities as additional plantings, cutting large woody debris, moving boulders, and performing localized grading. VII. Community Involvement Public outreach during this reporting period has included the following: • Pre-construction tour with Stampher Road Homeowners Association to educate neighbors about habitat elements of the project as well as construction safety, May 11, 2010 and June 2, 2010. • Frequent emails with Homeowners Association during construction VIII. Outreach Activities • The project was included in an educational kayak tour of several Willamette confluence projects for Johnson Creek Watershed Council, August 13, 2010. • Tour for Friends of Tryon State Park Board Members, August 19, 2010 • Project representation at Multnomah Days street fair, August 21, 2010 • Tour for Environmental and Water Resources Group of American Society of Civil Engineers, August 25, 2010 • Newspaper article in Portland Tribune, August 26, 2010 • Participation in USGS habitat restoration podcast, December 13, 2010 IX. Supporting Materials The following items are attached: • BES project fact sheet distributed at outreach events • Project photos- before, during and after construction • Portland Tribune article, August 26, 2010 Page 3 of 10 X. Funding Information (Cash and In-kind) 1. Itemized Budget table (during LCREP/NOAA grant period) Budget Category (e.g. personnel, supplies, NOAA Matching Nature (cash or in-kind) contractual, etc.) Funds Contributions Total Expense and Source of Match Personnel $ 43,150.86 $ 43,150.86 City of Portland / cash Benefits $ 13,902.23 $ 13,902.23 City of Portland / cash Consulting $ 7,574.39 $ 7,574.39 City of Portland / cash Misc Services (permit / BOLI fees) $ 754.28 $ 754.28 City of Portland / cash Construction contract $ 143,973.00 $ 44,434.40 $ 188,407.40 City of Portland / cash Materials testing $ 162.50 $ 162.50 City of Portland / cash Copy/Print/Bind services $ 334.58 $ 334.58 City of Portland / cash Forestry services $ 5,974.84 $ 5,974.84 City of Portland / cash Traffic Operations $ 125.49 $ 125.49 City of Portland / cash Survey $ 28,396.43 $ 28,396.43 City of Portland / cash Total: $ 143,973.00 $ 144,810.00 $ 288,783.00 2. Budget Narrative: The above table is for the LCREP / NOAA grant funding period of April 1, 2010 – August 31, 2010. A summary with other funding partners is shown below for the full construction phase. Page 4 of 10 NOAA Restoration Center OMB Approval No. Community-based Restoration Program (CRP) Expires Project Data Form CONTACT INFORMATION Contact Name: Kristen Acock Contact Title: Project manager Organization (Grantee): City of Portland, Bureau of Environmental Services Street Address: 1120 SW 5th Ave., Room 1000 City: Portland State: OR Zip: 97204 Phone: 503.823.7395 Fax: 503.823.6995 E-mail: [email protected] Organization website (if applicable): www.portlandonline.com/bes PROJECT INFORMATION Project Title: Off-Channel Habitat Enhancement at the Confluence of the Willamette River and Tryon Creek Project Award Number: LCREP 29-2010 Project Reporting Period: April 1, 2010 – March 1, 2011 Project Location - City: Lake Oswego County: Clackamas State: OR Zip Code: 97034 Congressional District(s): 5 Landmark (e.g. road intersection, beach): OR HWY 43 & Stampher Road Land Ownership (check one): City of Portland, City of Lake Oswego and Metro Geographic Coordinates (in decimal degrees): Longitude (X-coord): 45.42 Are there multiple project sites for Latitude (Y-coord): -122.66 this award?* __ Yes _x_ No River Basin: Willamette Geographic Identifier (e.g. Chesapeake Bay): Lower Willamette Project Start Date: 04/01/10 Project End Date: 03/01/11 Project Volunteers: Number of Volunteers: 0 Volunteer Hours: 0 Page 5 of 10 * If multiple project sites are part of the same award, please duplicate this form and submit required information for each site Page 6 of 10 Brief Project Description (1-2 sentences) describing project and what it hopes to accomplish: The primary goal is to enhance fish habitat at the confluence of the Willamette River and Tryon Creek, with shoreline and channel improvements, invasive plant removal and native plantings. The project includes habitat enhancement of approximately 100 feet of the Willamette River shoreline, 900 feet of lower Tryon Creek and approximately 3.5 acres of invasive plant removal and revegetation with native species. List of Project Partners and their contributions (e.g. cash, in-kind, goods and services, etc.) LCREP/ NOAA - $143,973 construction phase OWEB - $100,000 construction phase City of Portland - $199,415