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Water Quality and Fisheries Improvement on the Upper Sevier River near Hatch, UT - Year 5
Region: Southern
ID: 3618
Project Status: Completed
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Project Start Date
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Project End Date
Fiscal Year Completed
2018
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Final Methods
The final methods did not deviate significantly from the initial plan. The UDWR utilized heavy equipment to haul rock from a nearby BLM rock pit, install rock and log structures in the stream, and slope streambanks. A four-person conservation corps crew was hired for a total of two weeks to plant bare root tree and shrubs and willow stakes along the stream. Finally, a fence contractor was hired to build a riparian fence along the project area where needed to manage livestock grazing. The project took longer to implement than planned and it was necessary to carry over the project into a second year in order to finish the riparian fence construction.
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Project Narrative
The project was completed essentially as planned. Summary of the project implementation: (1) Large woody debris and rock structure installation - In September and October of 2016, private contractors hauled large tree and rock material to the project area and the UDWR Heavy Equipment Crew operated the necessary heavy equipment (e.g., excavator and front-end loader) to install large woody debris and rock structures in the stream and along banks. The structures added cover for fish, help to address problems associated with elevated rates of streambank erosion (e.g., recruitment of fine sediment or high total phosphorous loads), and protect cattle crossing structures to manage livestock grazing. (2) Streambank shaping and sloping - At the same time structures were installed, all bare, vertical, eroding banks were shaped and sloped back to at least a 2:1 slope in a manner intended to promote reconnection of the river with the floodplain and help address streambank erosion problems. The stream channel slope, pattern, and location were not changed. Work occurred only on existing stream banks. The stream was narrowed and deepened in some locations, but cross-sectional area of the channel was maintained. (3) Riparian planting - In March and April of 2017 and again in 2018, all disturbed ground and areas lacking adequate riparian vegetation were planted with willow cuttings and bare root riparian trees and shrubs (e.g., water birch, cottonwood, red-osier dogwood, chokecherry, elderberry and golden current) to add cover and address streambank erosion problems. A conservation corps work crew was hired to complete the planting work. (4) Livestock management - In the summer of 2017 (June-August), the stream corridor encompassing the upstream half of the original project area was fenced to manage livestock grazing, which will also help to protect large woody debris structures, riparian vegetation, and streambanks over the long-term. Livestock grazing will not occur within riparian areas for five years. Thereafter, livestock grazing within riparian areas will occur at an intensity, duration, timing, and season such that woody riparian vegetation is not degraded or lost due to grazing by livestock.
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Future Management
Important future management activities include: assessing function of installed structures to determine if changes are needed, working with the private land owners to ensure the grazing management plan is followed, monitoring the fish and habitat response, and completing any maintenance work that might be needed (e.g., additional planting efforts, repairing the riparian fence).
Submitted By
Nic Braithwaite
Submitted Time
08/22/2018 09:09:36
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