Portland State University PDXScholar Master of Environmental Management Project Reports Environmental Science and Management 6-2016 Clear Creek Estuary Restoration: Establishing an Ecological Monitoring Program and Baseline Conditions Christine Butler-Minor Portland State University Follow this and additional works at: https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/mem_gradprojects Part of the Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment Commons, Environmental Monitoring Commons, and the Water Resource Management Commons Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Butler-Minor, Christine, "Clear Creek Estuary Restoration: Establishing an Ecological Monitoring Program and Baseline Conditions" (2016). Master of Environmental Management Project Reports. 52. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/mem_gradprojects/52 https://doi.org/10.15760/mem.54 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master of Environmental Management Project Reports by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. Please contact us if we can make this document more accessible: [email protected]. Clear Creek Estuary Restoration: Establishing an Ecological Monitoring Program and Baseline Conditions Christine Butler-Minor June 28, 2016 Masters of Environmental Management Project Monitoring habitat conditions in the Clear Creek Estuary before the completion of the Bucklin Hill Bridge Project is a critical part of this ecosystem restoration planning and execution. The Clear Creek Trail Alliance (CCTA) is working with local partners to monitor the effects of the estuary restoration. In a wider effort to characterize salmonid habitat suitability of the estuary prior to the bridge replacement, CCTA would like to gather data related to water quality, beach/bank elevations, vegetation in the vicinity, and invertebrate diversity in the estuary. The development and implementation of this Clear Creek Estuary monitoring project provides an opportunity for students and local citizens to expand their knowledge of salmon habitat needs and learn about the benefits to salmon afforded through estuary restorations. These reliable, verifiable, and accurate data will be contributed to the State’s Marine Water Quality Monitoring Program plus shared with citizens of Kitsap County and other parties interested in gaining knowledge concerning the effectiveness of the restoration project. Comparison of data collected prior to and then following construction will aid in understanding the successful restoration features of the project and assist in determining if adaptations are needed in the ongoing management of this revitalized ecosystem. Presented to: Joseph Maser, PhD. Eugene Foster, PhD. Mary Earl, Director of Clear Creek Trail Alliance 2 Clear Creek Estuary Restoration: Establishing a Monitoring Program and Baseline Conditions CBM 6/28/2016 Contents I. Introduction to the Current State ........................................................................................ 8 A. Project Vicinity Description ................................................................................. 10 B. Historical Conditions ........................................................................................... 11 1. Estuary ................................................................................................................. 11 2. Vegetation ........................................................................................................... 11 3. Industry ............................................................................................................... 12 C. Previous Studies and Contaminants of Concern ................................................. 13 D. Present Stream Monitoring ................................................................................. 16 E. Current Hydrological Conditions in the Estuary .................................................. 18 II. Bridge Project Site Description .......................................................................................... 19 III. Salmonids ........................................................................................................................... 21 A. Habitat Needs ...................................................................................................... 21 B. Historic Conditions .............................................................................................. 22 C. Current Conditions .............................................................................................. 23 IV. Monitoring Project Design ................................................................................................. 23 V. Community Partner Needs ................................................................................................ 23 VI. Goals of this Project ........................................................................................................... 24 VII. Methods ............................................................................................................................. 25 A. Training Data Collectors ...................................................................................... 26 B. Monitoring Site Descriptions............................................................................... 26 C. Parameters, Collection and Processing Procedures ........................................... 30 1. Water Quality Monitoring: ......................................................................................... 30 2. Sediment Characteristics and Profiles ........................................................................ 33 3. Vegetation Surveys ..................................................................................................... 34 4. Invertebrate Sampling ................................................................................................ 34 5. Beach Seining .............................................................................................................. 35 VIII. Results ................................................................................................................................ 35 1. Water Quality .............................................................................................................. 35 2. Flow ............................................................................................................................. 41 3. Invertebrates ............................................................................................................... 42 4. Vegetation ................................................................................................................... 43 5. Sediment Size Composition ........................................................................................ 44 6. Sediment Elevations.................................................................................................... 45 7. Beach Seines ............................................................................................................... 48 IX. Discussion........................................................................................................................... 49 X. Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 53 The Need for Monitoring ............................................................................................ 53 The Need for Citizen Scientists ................................................................................... 54 Expected Results of the Restoration ........................................................................... 55 Recommendations ...................................................................................................... 56 Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................... 57 XI. References ......................................................................................................................... 58 3 Clear Creek Estuary Restoration: Establishing a Monitoring Program and Baseline Conditions CBM 6/28/2016 XII. Appendix A – WQM Data Sheet ......................................................................................... 65 XIII. Appendix B – Training Manual ........................................................................................... 69 Overview ....................................................................................................................................... 70 Goals ........................................................................................................................... 70 Objectives.................................................................................................................... 71 Monitoring Site Selection ........................................................................................... 71 Monitoring Site Locations ........................................................................................... 71 Background of Monitoring Parameters ...................................................................... 72 6. Water Quality .............................................................................................................. 72 7. Invertebrates and other nearshore inhabitants ......................................................... 74 8. Flow: ...........................................................................................................................