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Utah's Watershed Restoration Initiative
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Salt Creek Channel Cleaning island restoration
Region: Northern
ID: 4553
Project Status: Completed
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Project Details
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Need for Project
Siltation rates at Salt Creek WMA are high due to surrounding agriculture and return irrigation water. The spring of 2017 also increased sedimentation rates drastically due to a 30 year flood event. Increased sediment in the main water delivery channel to Salt Creek has caused interruption of water delivery systems, inability to properly drain the unit, and raised the pond soil surface making it difficult for hunters and boats to access. Several years ago, a number of nesting islands were formed in Salt Creek's main impoundment. Unfortunately, vegetation never established on some of these islands and many of them have eroded away. In some cases the islands are less than half of what they once were. These islands are important for nesting birds as they provide sanctuary from predators.
Provide evidence about the nature of the problem and the need to address it. Identify the significance of the problem using a variety of data sources. For example, if a habitat restoration project is being proposed to benefit greater sage-grouse, describe the existing plant community characteristics that limit habitat value for greater sage-grouse and identify the changes needed for habitat improvement.
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Objectives
Dredge and remove sediment from approximatly, 7,000 linear feet from the main channel and the north bay of Salt Creek WMA. Restore water delivery capacities and the ability to drain the unit. Increase access for boats and walk-in hunters. Restore islands that are used for nesting and establish emergent vegetation around the islands to prevent further erosion.
Provide an overall goal for the project and then provide clear, specific and measurable objectives (outcomes) to be accomplished by the proposed actions. If possible, tie to one or more of the public benefits UWRI is providing.
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Project Location/Timing Justification (Why Here? Why Now?)
The threats and risks of this increased sedimentation includes; 1) decreased water delivery downstream. More water is being held upstream and not making its way to Salt Creek Bay. 2) Increased sediments promotes easier establishment of unwanted vegetation (cattail) and noxious weeds (Phragmites). If this continues, water delivery capabilities will be hindered further. 3) Access by hunters is increasingly difficult. 4) Increased sedimentation does not allow mangers to drain/drawdown the area properly. Drawdowns are extremely important for wetland mangers. Drawdowns are used to protect infrastructure from ice damage, concentrating carp for rotenone treatments, and releasing nutrients for increased pondweed production. 4) Islands that are used by nesting birds have eroded away displacing these birds to other areas that are more susceptible to predators.
LOCATION: Justify the proposed location of this project over other areas, include publicly scrutinized planning/recovery documents that list this area as a priority, remote sensing modeling that show this area is a good candidate for restoration, wildlife migration information and other data that help justify this project's location.
TIMING: Justify why this project should be implemented at this time. For example, Is the project area at risk of crossing an ecological or other threshold wherein future restoration would become more difficult, cost prohibitive, or even impossible.
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Relation to Management Plans
This project is related to the purpose of Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area as stated in the habitat management plan:To preserve, restore, and enhance both aquatic and terrestrial habitat for wildlife; increase wildlife populations to meet wildlife management objectives; conserve, protect, and recover sensitive wildlife species and their habitats; protect cultural resources; and provide for recreational opportunities that are compatible with the purpose of upland and wetland ecosystems. In relation to the WAP, Objective #1 for Sediment Transport Imbalance Opportunities are found and taken,to modify or remove reservoir infrastructure, or modify outflow management, to simulate or return natural sediment transport. This project meets this objective by removing sediment that has accumulated over the years and restores the channels to a more natural flow. Also in relation to WAP is Objective #2 for Droughts Aquatic SGCNs and key habitats persist on the landscape, despite increasing drought conditions. Drought conditions over the past several years has made it imperative that the WMA's have properly functioning water control structures and delivery channels to maximize water deliveries in order to maintain key wetland habitats. Actions that this project will address include; 2.3.6 Restore aquatic habitat complexity Also in relation to the WAP are: Invasive plant (Phragmites) dominance/presence is reduced or eliminated in locations or habitats where such an outcome is realistic (ecologically and economically).2.2.2 Survey and inventory established and new populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.3 Eradicate established populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.4 Contain established populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.9 Avoid establishment of new invasive/problematic species through education, planning, management, and/or regulation. Increased sediments allow for invasive plants such as Phragmites to establish and expand through areas that were once open water habitats.
List management plans where this project will address an objective or strategy in the plan. Describe how the project area overlaps the objective or strategy in the plan and the relevance of the project to the successful implementation of those plans. It is best to provide this information in a list format with the description immediately following the plan objective or strategy.
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Fire/Fuels
Not applicable
If applicable, detail how the proposed project will significantly reduce the risk of fuel loading and/or continuity of hazardous fuels including the use of fire-wise species in re-seeding operations. Describe the value of any features being protected by reducing the risk of fire. Values may include; communities at risk, permanent infrastructure, municipal watersheds, campgrounds, critical wildlife habitat, etc. Include the size of the area where fuels are being reduced and the distance from the feature(s) at risk.
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Water Quality/Quantity
Overall water quantity will not be increased, but water quantity downstream of Salt Creek WMA into Public Shooting Grounds WMA should increase slightly once sediment is removed and water is allowed to flow more freely. Furthermore, increasing water flow through this area will help increase dissolve oxygen levels, allow nutrient rich sediments to flow through the wetlands instead of being deposited in one area, and allow for better water filtration. Water quality will also be increased by giving managers the ability to drawdown impoundments and flush out high nutrient and/or contaminated sediments.
Describe how the project has the potential to improve water quality and/or increase water quantity, both over the short and long term. Address run-off, erosion, soil infiltration, and flooding, if applicable.
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Compliance
The archaeologist will be consulted for this project. However, the areas have already been disturbed in the past. 6 NEPA, This activity is covered by categorical exclusion.
Description of efforts, both completed and planned, to bring the proposed action into compliance with any and all cultural resource, NEPA, ESA, etc. requirements. If compliance is not required enter "not applicable" and explain why not it is not required.
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Methods
This project will be put out for bid according to state purchasing guidelines. Managers will drain the impoundment starting in late May. By early July, soils should be dry enough for equipment access.Heavy equipment such as, trackhoes, agricultral scrapers, and dozers will be used to remove material. Material will then be transported and placed on and next to islands that need to be restored. Hay bales will be place on the side of the islands directly adjacent to the excavated channel. This will help with erosion and plant establishment. The following spring, WMA personnel and volunteers will use airboats and john boats to transport excavated bulrush rhizomes to plant around the islands.
Describe the actions, activities, tasks to be implemented as part of the proposed project; how these activities will be carried out, equipment to be used, when, and by whom.
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Monitoring
Photos will be taken throughout the project. Monitoring of increased sediments in the northern portion of the channel will be monitored on a yearly basis. It is estimated that small-scale channel cleanings will be needed every 2-3 years in order to maintain this projects objectives and increase it's longevity. Vegetation establishment will be monitored through photographs and ocular estimations during routine WMA activities (i.e. census, weed spraying, duck and goose banding, etc.)
Describe plans to monitor for project success and achievement of stated objectives. Include details on type of monitoring (vegetation, wildlife, etc.), schedule, assignments and how the results of these monitoring efforts will be reported and/or uploaded to this project page. If needed, upload detailed plans in the "attachments" section.
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Partners
Delta Waterfowl
List any and all partners (agencies, organizations, NGO's, private landowners) that support the proposal and/or have been contacted and included in the planning and design of the proposed project. Describe efforts to gather input and include these agencies, landowners, permitees, sportsman groups, researchers, etc. that may be interested/affected by the proposed project. Partners do not have to provide funding or in-kind services to a project to be listed.
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Future Management
Due to its proximity on the landscape, Salt Creek WMA is prone to high sedimentation rates. Future management will consist of monitoring the main channel and implementing small-scale channel cleanings more often (2-3 years) using the waterfowl maintenance crew. Also, once the main channel through Salt Creek Bay is re-established, drawdowns should help to pull some of the sediment out of the channel. This project will benefit future management practices on both Salt Creek and Public Shooting Grounds WMA's by increasing water flow to downstream areas making it easier for managers to control downstream pond levels and water outflows that are more beneficial for wetland flora and fauna.
Detail future methods or techniques (including administrative actions) that will be implemented to help in accomplishing the stated objectives and to insure the long term success/stability of the proposed project. This may include: post-treatment grazing rest and/or management plans/changes, wildlife herd/species management plan changes, ranch plans, conservation easements or other permanent protection plans, resource management plans, forest plans, etc.
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Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources
This project will help sustain hunting opportunities at Salt Creek WMA. The channel will be more accessible by waterfowl hunters, and the improved islands and water delivery systems will make it easier for managers to improve and maintain quality wetland habitat.
Potential for the proposed action to improve quality or quantity of sustainable uses such as grazing, timber harvest, biomass utilization, recreation, etc. Grazing improvements may include actions to improve forage availability and/or distribution of livestock.
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