Professional Documents
Culture Documents
ecesis \I-’se-sus, i-’ke-sus\ noun [from Greek oikesis meaning inhabitation]: the establishment of an animal or plant in a new habitat.
In this issue:
Restoration Potluck…
2... The Guadalupe River
Project
6... Successful Mitigation and
Monitoring Techniques
8... Riparian Vegetation on
Levees
Plus…
3... SERCAL Contacts
11... Natural Resource Events
10-11... Membership
Restoration Potluck
Ecesis is published quarterly by
the California Society for
The original theme of this newsletter was intended to focus on performance monitoring. Instead it
Ecological Restoration, a has morphed into a restoration potluck — a little of this, a little of that.
nonprofit corporation, as a
The feature article focuses on the monitoring program for the Guadalupe River Flood Protection
service to its members.
Project in San Jose, California. This flood protection project and the mitigation and monitoring
Newsletter contributions of all
types are welcome and may be plan were developed through a collaborative process with resource agencies and other stakeholders
submitted to any of the that sought to balance flood protection while minimizing effects on the natural river channel and
regional directors (see p. 2). overhead shaded riverine aquatic cover vegetation.
Articles should be sent as a
word processing document;
The second article focuses on implementing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Habitat Mitigation
and accompanying images and Monitoring Proposal (HMMP) for projects that impact wetlands and other waters of the United
sent as jpg or tif files. States. This article describes how to incorporate the HMMP process into the project design process
and includes some lessons learned during the development and implementation of HMMPs.
ABOVESacramento River levee.
Courtesy Harry Oakes. The final article focuses on the treatment of riparian vegetation on flood protection levees. In the
RIGHT Theconfluence of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers has placed increased emphasis on
Sacramento River and the treatment of woody vegetation on flood protection system components. The Corps has drafted a
American River depicting the guidance paper outlining a directive that could have significant effects on riparian habitat and
difference in leveed associated wildlife and fish resources along leveed waterways. This articles describes what the
floodplain width. Courtesy implications of these potential actions could mean for California.
Airphoto USA.
— Harry Oakes, Region 2 Director
The Guadalupe River Project:
Development & Implementation of a Comprehensive Monitoring Program
by Karen Leone, Jones & Stokes; Mario Parker, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and Ryan Heacock, Santa Clara Valley Water District
Introduction constructed in phases along 2.6 miles of the The MMP was developed in coordination
Guadalupe River in downtown San Jose. with resource agencies and other
Effectively identifying the success or failure
Project flood protection components include stakeholders. The MMP’s monitoring
of mitigation for landscape-level projects
river channel and bank armoring, program identified 28 ecological indicators
usually requires a comprehensive, ecosystem-
underground bypass construction, earthen and related measurable objectives to
based monitoring program. Key components
bypass construction, bridge removal and represent the overall success of the
of ecosystem monitoring programs are 1)
replacement, and trail/maintenance road and mitigation effort. Because of the complex
ongoing coordination with stakeholders; 2)
stairwell construction. Mitigation nature of the Project and the number of
identification of mitigation goals and
components include installation of riparian stakeholders involved in the development of
objectives; 3) identification of entities
and shaded riverine aquatic cover vegetation the MMP, a multi-step process was used as
responsible for implementation; 4)
plantings, construction of a low-flow described below.
identification of ecological indicators and
channel in armored channel sections, and
measurable objectives for those indicators; 5)
development of instream habitat through the Step 1: Coordinating with Resource
development of monitoring methods and
inclusion of geomorphic features in the Agencies and Other Stakeholders
schedules; 6) development of a data
constructed low-flow channel.
management system; 7) analysis, evaluation, The development of the MMP involved
and reporting of data; 8) implementation of Mitigation for the loss of riparian vegetation collaboration with six resource agencies and
an adaptive management process; and 9) includes planting approximately 21 acres of eight stakeholder groups. All parties were
identification of corrective actions. The riparian vegetation within the earthen bypass either directly or indirectly (via a designated
Guadalupe River Flood Protection Project in channels and planting approximately 22,000 representative) involved throughout the
San Jose, California, provides a case study for linear feet of shaded riverine aquatic cover development of the monitoring program.
the development and implementation of a vegetation. The implementation of Very active involvement was necessary on
comprehensive monitoring program. mitigation was phased to match the timing behalf of the participants because of an
of newly constructed portions of the Project accelerated Project construction schedule
Background and as mitigation sites became available. Two and the need for real-time decision making.
The Guadalupe River Flood Protection offsite mitigation areas were implemented to In addition to meeting on a regular basis and
Project (Project) was developed through a supplement onsite mitigation. The offsite providing review of written materials, many
collaborative process with resource agencies mitigation sites include a 1.2-mile section of of the stakeholders helped to perform
and other stakeholders that sought to the Guadalupe River downstream of the technical analyses, including selecting
balance flood protection while minimizing Project area (Reach A) and a 1.6-mile section indicators and related measurable objectives,
effects on the natural river channel and of Guadalupe Creek, a tributary to the determining monitoring methods, and
overhead shaded riverine aquatic cover Guadalupe River. Mitigation monitoring, determining monitoring schedule and
vegetation. As implemented by the U.S. based on the mitigation and monitoring plan frequency. The collaboration of all
Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento (MMP), began in 2001 and will continue for participants on the MMP’s monitoring
District (Corps), as the lead Federal sponsor, 40 years. program helped to proactively address
and the Santa Clara Valley Water District potential conflicts and enable the Project to
(SCVWD) as the lead nonfederal sponsor, Mitigation and Monitoring Plan move forward with broad support.
the Project provides up to the design Development
threshold of 17,000 cubic feet per second Step 2: Identifying Mitigation Goals and
Conditions of the Project’s Clean Water Act Objectives
flood protection to downtown San Jose and
Section 401 water quality certification
surrounding areas while mitigating adverse To initiate the development of a successful
required that an MMP be developed to
effects on anadromous fish, specifically MMP monitoring program, one goal and
address adverse effects on anadromous fish
steelhead, and riparian habitat, including several objectives were identified:
and riparian habitat. The MMP includes
shaded riverine aquatic cover vegetation. A
environmental mitigation and monitoring Goal: Set guidelines and account for the
recreation component is also included as
required as part of the water quality management, operation, and reporting of mitigation
part of the Project.
certification and environmental mitigation values over the life of the Project.
Construction of the Project began in 1992 and monitoring required under Section 7 of
and was substantially completed in 2006. the Federal Endangered Species Act. Objective 1: Implement a technically sound
Flood protection components were monitoring program for the Project for riparian
vegetation, spawning gravel, and other components
Directors
REGION 1 Mark Stemen (Appointee) California State
University-Chico mstemen@csuchico.edu — NORTHERN
INTERIOR (Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Trinity)
the life of the Project to ensure that the realized Step 4: Identifying Indicators and REGION 6 Dave Hubbard (Appointee) Coastal Restoration
benefits of mitigation measures comply with Measurable Objectives Consultants david@coastalrestorationconsultants.com —
mitigation requirements. Five major resources were identified to be CENTRAL COAST (Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa
Barbara, Santa Cruz)
monitored under the MMP:
Objective 3: Allow for adaptive management of REGION 7 Nick Pacini (Appointee) soilsnick@hotmail.com
the Project so that corrective actions can be Riparian vegetation, — NORTH COAST (Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino)
implemented if onsite and offsite mitigation does Shaded riverine aquatic cover (including instream REGION 8 Michael Hogan Integrated Environmental Restoration
not perform as expected. and overhead cover components), Services, Inc. michael.hogan@integratedenvironmental.net
Anadromous fish spawning habitat, — SIERRA (Alpine, El Dorado, Inyo, Mono, Nevada, Placer,
Step 3: Identifying Responsible Entities Anadromous fish passage and rearing habitat, and Plumas, Sierra)
for Monitoring Program Anadromous fish occurrence. REGION 9 Paul Kielhold LSA Associates, Inc.-Riverside
Paul.Kielhold@LSA-Assoc.com — SOUTHERN INTERIOR
Implementation Indicators and measurable objectives were (Imperial, Riverside, San Bernardino)
All stakeholders agreed that the MMP’s then developed to determine if the target
monitoring program needed to clearly resources were on track to successfully Guild Chairs
identify responsible entities for all establish and reach measurable objectives. COASTAL HABITAT Vince Cicero California Department of Parks
components of the program to ensure that Indicators are environmental conditions & Recreation vcicero@hearstcastle.com
long-term commitments would be carried or variables that can be measured; they are EDUCATION Mark Tucker Tucker & Associates
out. Identifying responsible entities was identified based on scientific literature, tuckerandassociates@cox.net
especially important for the Project reference sites, and environmental models. UPLAND HABITAT Margot Griswold EARTHWORKS Restoration,
because the Corps and SCVWD would be Measurable objectives define the Inc. earthworks@telis.net
sharing some responsibilities and trading performance thresholds for indicators and WETLAND & RIPARIAN Max Busnardo H.T. Harvey & Associates
off other responsibilities over time, are therefore quantifiable and temporal; mbusnardo@harveyecology.com
depending on the mitigation site. measurable objectives are identified based ____________________
on regulatory requirements, scientific ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR Susan Clark
Key components for which a responsible smclark@lightspeed.net
literature, reference sites, and
entity was identified included: 2701 20th St., Bakersfield 93301
environmental models.
tel. 661.634.9228 fax 661.634.9540
Data collection,
continued next page NEWSLETTER EDITOR Julie St. John julieDesign@cox.net
Data analysis and evaluation,
WEBMASTER Steve Newton-Reed webmaster@sercal.org
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is important to remember during the early describe the mitigation sites, construction
issues Department of Army Permits, under stages of project design that an HMMP will methods, and monitoring and reporting
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which in be required whether your project is a guidelines in the same level of detail for each
many cases contain special conditions relatively small-scale bridge replacement mitigation site. If an in-lieu fee program or
requiring compensatory mitigation for project with temporary impacts on wetlands mitigation bank credits are purchased, the
unavoidable impacts on wetlands. Most or a large-scale off-site restoration project. As project proponent must state in the HMMP
compensatory wetland mitigation projects consultants, restoration planners, and fee program mitigation bank from which the
require a detailed Habitat Mitigation and designers we need to plan early in the project credits will be purchased the HMMP does
Monitoring Proposal (HMMP) for work design phase for what will be required in the not need to include detail-specific mitigation
involving the creation, restoration, and/or HMMP. The best way to do this is by and monitoring methods being used by the
enhancement of aquatic resources. Many discussing the project and possible program mitigation bank.
Corps Districts have developed District- mitigation requirements with the Corps early
specific HMMP guidelines and outlines. This in the design process. Mitigation of temporary impacts typically
article describes some of the lessons we have includes restoring on-site wetlands or other
learned during the development and review Mitigation of wetland impacts typically waters of the United States to preproject
includes compensating for permanent and conditions. It is easy to overlook these
of HMMPs.
temporary impacts. Mitigation of permanent impacts and mitigation requirements during
impacts may occur on site (if possible), at an the early planning phase of the project.
Incorporating the HMMP Process off-site location, through a Corps-approved However, in some cases it may be more
into the Project Design Process in-lieu fee program, or at a Corps-approved efficient to include portions of the
HMMPs are a requirement of the Corps mitigation bank. An HMMP must address restoration design into the construction
permit, which is issued during the later the proposed mitigation methods and documents (plans and specifications).
stages of the planning and design process. It monitoring procedures for all impacts and
continued next page
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and reducing risks to levee systems. If local Today, the federal government often builds
other recent large storm events, the U.S. sponsors do not comply with the proposed or funds local flood protection projects;
Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has placed directive, they may be ineligible for federal however, most local levee systems are
increased emphasis on the treatment of assistance to repair levees. If vegetation is maintained by a local sponsor (e.g.,
woody vegetation on flood protection system removed, however, local sponsors would be reclamation districts, water districts).
components, such as levees, floodwalls, required to provide funding for the Following completion of a flood protection
dams, and embankments. Woody vegetation environmental compliance and mitigation project, the Corps prepares an operations
provides habitat for common and special- process. and maintenance manual, which is used by
status species, protects against soil erosion, the local sponsors to maintain and manage
provides aesthetic value, and provides many The final directive, which is expected to be the levee system. Implementation of the
other benefits; however, according to the released later this year, is expected to identify operation and maintenance manual by the
Corps, this vegetation could also have and summarize existing Corps guidelines for local sponsor ensures that the project
detrimental effects on levee systems, which levee system maintenance. These guidelines features retain federal funding and
could result in the loss of life or property. include maintaining vegetation-free zones certification under the National Flood
The Corps has drafted a guidance paper and root-free zones on levee slopes and Insurance Program.
outlining a directive that could have along the toe of levee slopes. The purpose of
significant effects on riparian habitat and these zones is to allow federal and local
inspectors an unimpeded view of the levees Guidelines for Treatment of
associated wildlife and fish resources along
leveed waterways. Under the directive, local to look for trouble spots (e.g., boils and Vegetation
sponsors responsible for maintenance of slumps) and to ease emergency access. The proposed directive is expected to
federal levees could be required to remove identify and summarize the existing Corps
woody vegetation from hundreds of miles of Brief History of Corps’ Role in guidelines for levee system maintenance.
waterways in California alone. These guidelines include maintaining
Flood Damage Reduction vegetation-free zones and root-free zones on
The directive is being prepared following a The Flood Control Act of 1917 first levee slopes and along the toe of levee slopes.
review by the Corps of their Levee Safety authorized the Corps to participate in flood The purpose of these zones is to allow
Program, which identified numerous levee control activities. This purpose of this act federal and local inspectors to have
systems with deficiencies that, if left was to “provide for the control of the floods unimpeded views of the levees to look for
unchecked, could result in levee failure. On of the Mississippi River and of the trouble spots (e.g., boils, slumps) and to
February 1, 2007, the Corps released a list of Sacramento River, Calif., and for other allow for emergency access.
nationwide levee units considered to have purposes.” Since that time, numerous flood
unacceptably maintained levees. control acts and other acts have been passed In vegetation-free zones, which include the
Approximately one-third of these levee units that further expand the Corps’s role in flood levee slopes and areas adjacent to the levee
occurred in the Corps Sacramento District. protection. The Flood Control Act of 1936 toe, herbaceous vegetation, preferably grass,
directed that the federal government be is the only vegetation permitted to grow.
The presence of woody vegetation on levees primarily responsible for providing flood Woody vegetation on levees can compromise
and in areas designated as vegetation-free protection and gave the responsibility for the structural integrity of a levee by causing
zones adjacent to levee toes or floodwalls most federal flood protection projects to the localized scour around trunks or fallen
does not meet the current guidance for Corps. vegetation, creating voids in the protected
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Do you know of an
upcoming event that would be
of interest to SERCAL members?
Noteworthy Natural WANTED:
Send specifics to Ecesis via
julieDesign@cox.net Resources Events SERCAL Grant Writer, 2007- 08.
Paid Position.
Jun 18–22: Sustainable Watershed Management,
Five-day Short Course presented in two modules (Bren Please submit resume and
School of Environmental Science & Management, UC–Santa fee requirements to the
Barbara). Info: www.unex.ucsb.edu/watershed
SERCAL Board of Directors c/o
Jul 10: Abstract Submittal Deadline for SERCAL’s 14th
SERCAL Administrative Office at
Annual Conference, October 23–26, Restoration from Sea to
Shining Sea (Marina Village Conference Center, San Diego). 2701 20th Street, Bakersfield, CA
Info: www.sercal.org/SERCAL_2007_conference.htm 93301 or email to SERCAL
Jul 24–26 Still Battling the Inland Sea—Exploring Solutions for California’s Administrative Director, Susan
Complex Water Issues (workshop on flood damage reduction co-sponsored by Clark at smclark@lightspeed.net
the Am. Society of Civil Engineers & the Society of Am. Military Engineers,
Sacramento). Info: samesacramento.org/calendar/2007leveeconference.html
Aug 5–7: ESA/SER Joint Annual Meeting, Ecological Restoration in a
Changing World (San Jose). Info: www.esa.org
Sep 19–22: Cal-IPC Annual Symposium, Conservation & Communication:
The Human Dimension in Invasive Plant Management (Bahia Resort Hotel,
San Diego). Info: www.cal-ipc.org