Trees, Paddlers and Wildlife - Safeguarding Ecological and Recreational Values on the River Presented by: Russ Cohen, Rivers Advocate Mass. Department of Fish and Game Division of Ecological Restoration (DER)/Riverways Program Presented to the Taunton River Stewardship Council NMR Buddhist Meditation Center, East Raynham, MA Thursday, May 14, 2015 Mission: To promote the restoration and protection of the ecological integrity of the Commonwealth's rivers, streams and adjacent lands. Water Quality Healthy Stream Flows Land Along Rivers and Streams Habitat for Fish & Wildlife in River Corridors River Continuity Public Access To and Along Rivers Mission of the Division of Ecological Restoration (DER): “To restore and protect the health and integrity of the Commonwealth's rivers, wetlands and watersheds for the benefit of people, fish and wildlife.” DER and the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) have collaborated on a video, brochure and web page (see http://www.outdoors.org/conservation/issues/rivers/river-recreation- ecology.cfm) to educate paddlers and others about the functions and values of trees and wood in/along the river, and to encourage its retention except where significant public safety issues necessitate some judicious pruning, relocation or removal What prompted us to work on this topic? requests from paddlers for advice on how to “clear” rivers to facilitate paddling river “cleanups” conducted by paddling groups sometimes go beyond removing tires, shopping carts + other human trash to also removing trees from the river the owners/managers of riverine property, DPW personnel and others often view trees in the river as a safety hazard, or at the very least unsightly the folks removing trees from rivers are frequently unaware of the many ecological and other benefits trees bring to rivers the “Trees, Paddlers and Wildlife” brochure, video, web page, etc. are intended to raise awareness of why trees are good for riverine organisms and habitats and to encourage restraint in and alternatives to removing them from the river To what extent is tree clearing in and along rivers subject to Conservation Commission and/or other regulatory jurisdiction, review, approval, etc.? work is taking place within at least one wetland Resource Area a threshold question: does the work fall under the definition of “alter” See 310 CMR 10.04 - definition of “alter”: “Alter means to change the condition of any Area Subject to Protection Under M.G.L. c. 131, § 40. Examples of alterations include, but are not limited to, the following: (a) the changing of pre-existing drainage characteristics, flushing characteristics, salinity distribution, sedimentation patterns, flow patterns and flood retention areas; (b) the lowering of the water level or water table; (c) the destruction of vegetation; (d) the changing of water temperature, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and other physical, biological or chemical characteristics of the receiving water.” whether or not activity is subject to regulation may depend on the scale of and/or tools used for the work (e.g., using pruning shears on a few small branches vs. using chainsaws to remove whole trees) To what extent is tree clearing in and along rivers subject to Conservation Commission and/or other regulatory jurisdiction, review, approval, etc.? Regardless of whether or not a Conservation Commission might have jurisdiction over the activity ― and while our “Trees, Paddlers and Wildlife” brochure, video, web page, etc. state that anyone that wants to clear trees from rivers should seek the approval of conservation commissions and riverine landowners before taking action ― We believe that this is very rarely done. Why is that? A few possible explanations: a lack of awareness that the activity is subject to regulatory jurisdiction a lack of awareness of the ecological and other benefits trees bring to rivers a belief that removing riverine vegetation (esp. that perceived to pose a safety hazard) is good, and that paddlers (as well as paddling clubs, canoe liveries, etc.) have some sort of right or responsibility to make the river safe for others So our “TPW” material is intended to educate paddlers why trees are good for the river while validating concerns about safety and urging restraint (e.g., prune or relocate trees to abate safety hazards rather than removing them from the river). Water Quality Benefits conferred by Riverine Vegetation: A – plant roots filter out excess nutrients and other pollutants before they reach the water B – living/dead vegetation on the ground helps slow runoff, intercepts sediment and reduces erosion C – Roots, as well as other living and dead vegetation extending into the water, provide surface areas for pollutant-eating microbes Illustration courtesy of Agri-food Canada D – Trees and other riverine vegetation provide shade E – Leaves, twigs, insects and other natural items (not lawn that helps to keep the water clippings!) falling off streamside vegetation and into the water cool and dissolved oxygen help provide healthy fuel for the aquatic food chain levels high enough to support F – riverine vegetation enhances infiltration of precipitation into trout and other sensitive the ground, where it can replenish aquifers and streamflow. organisms. Also, less algae Higher “baseflows” dilute pollutants and mitigate stream heating grows in shaded streams due ►See my nine fact sheets on the functions and values of to the reduced sunlight naturally-vegetated riparian areas to learn much more. Interpretive sign at a stream restoration project A good example of “Nature is messy”: Large Woody Debris (LWD, also known as “woody habitat”) in a stream, along with lots of streamside vegetation Trout are Made of Trees – children’s book (ages 4-7) “How can a leaf become a fish? Join two young children and their dads to find out, as they observe life in and around a stream. Energetic collage art and simple, lyrical text depict the ways plants and animals are connected in the food web. Back matter provides information about the trout life cycle as well as conservation efforts that kids can do themselves.” (more info at http://www.charlesbridge.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=4719) Looking upstream, a large oak tree has fallen almost completely across the Assabet River in Concord. While this tree may back up a bit of water behind it, causing minor flooding, it is also helping to mitigate the velocity and volume of the river’s flow, which helps attenuate problems downstream. Forested floodplains provide habitat and a place for floodwaters to back up onto instead of rushing downstream and potentially causing problems Good example of “structure”: wood above and below the surface of the Quinebaug River in Sturbridge – Anglers know fish are often lurking in such places And so do Great Blue Herons… and Kingfishers… photo courtesy of Bob Michelson, www.pbmphoto.com A brook trout utilizing vegetation in the water to hide from predators and prey Turtles (like this painted turtle) are frequently spotted basking on logs in the river on warm days Photo credit: Keith Toffling Snakes (like this Northern Water Snake) also take advantage of riverine vegetation for basking and moving around on Restoring Woody Habitat River scientists think having trees and other large wood in rivers is so beneficial to riverine ecology that they are actively seeking opportunities to add large wood to rivers Episode 17: Tree-Tipping is the most recent (12/18/14) addition to Restore, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS)’s Region 5 (Pacific Southwest)’s video podcast series on Ecological Restoration. “Tree-tipping is a special technology used by the US Forest Service in our restoration efforts. By placing large woody debris into streams, the Forest Service provides better habitat for fish and other aquatic species.” An example from the Shetucket River in Sprague, CT, where the CT DEP installed several “constructed log jams” into the river to enhance fisheries habitat (see http://www.ct.gov/dep/lib/dep/fishing/restoration/shetucketriver.pdf for more details) An example from Massachusetts: the Eel River in Plymouth, where the MA Division of Ecological Restoration added logs to a segment of the river flowing through a former impoundment to enhance its habitat complexity - see the link below for more details: http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/der/aquatic-habitat-restoration/eel-river- restoration-project.html View of the same restored section of Eel River several years later. Volunteers planting native plant species along the banks of the Housatonic River in Great Barrington, MA Native Species Suitable for Planting in Riparian Areas Meadow Beauty Rose Mallow Rhexia Virginica Hibiscus moscheutos (palustris) Juneberry (Shadbush/Serviceberry) – Amelanchier canadensis and other species Common or Black Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), at (edible) blossom stage Elderberry – Sambucus canadensis Nannyberry or Wild Raisin – Viburnum lentago or cassinoides Blue Huckleberry or Dangleberry (Gaylussacia frondosa) – prefers slightly damper habitat than the Black Huckleberry – the plants also tend to be somewhat taller and the fruit ripens 2-3 weeks later Wild Grapes – Riverside (Concord) and Fox Grape, Vitis riparia and V. labrusca Paddlers sometimes get good opportunities to nibble on the landscape without leaving the boat (e.g., when natural wild grape arbors hang over the river) Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) – likes to grow in damp, shady areas near flowing water – can steep the twigs for tea, plus the dried berries make a fine Szechuan Pepper-like substitute This tree fallen into the water provides good perching opportunities for birds and cover for fish without posing any kind of a safety hazard for paddlers. East Branch Housatonic River, Pittsfield, April, 2011 AMC paddlers on the Squannacook River in Townsend successfully manovering around riverine vegetation (no portage or clearing necessary) Paddlers easily making their way around a tree that has fallen into the water. Kayaker squeezing through a spot where the submerged portion of a large tree across the river can be paddled over.