SALT LAKE CITY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES Red Butte Creek Riparian Corridor Study

SALT LAKE CITYSALT LAKE CITY

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIESDEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES

Red Butte Creek Riparian Corridor StudyRed Butte Creek Riparian Corridor Study

Public Workshop 3Public Workshop 3May 14, 2009May 14, 2009

Facilitated by BIO-WEST, IncFacilitated by BIO-WEST, Inc.

Workshop Presentation OutlineWorkshop Presentation Outline• Review of Workshops 1 and 2

– Purpose/Need of Study– Study Plan and Schedule– Riparian Area Definition– Riparian Corridor Functions– Baseline Assessment

• Recommended Types of Improvement Projects

• What is our collective vision for the Red Butte Riparian Corridor

Why is SLC Conducting This Why is SLC Conducting This Study? Study? • To assess current

conditions

• To determine desired future conditions

• To identify opportunities for restoration and remediation of Red Butte Creek

Why is SLC Conducting This Why is SLC Conducting This Study? Study? • To use the

information, data, and maps developed during the study to inform planning, permitting, and administrative processes of the Riparian Corridor Overlay District Ordinance (RCO)

What Will the Riparian What Will the Riparian Corridor Study Management Corridor Study Management Plan Include?Plan Include?• Statement(s) of desired future conditions

• Identification of restoration and remediation projects

• Cost analysis and ranking of projects

• Identification of project funding mechanisms

• Presentation of best management practices

• Inventory of GIS-based information

• Continuation of public outreach

What Does a Riparian Corridor What Does a Riparian Corridor Study Involve?Study Involve?

BIO-WEST

Planning & Public Outreachpublic workshops (four)

subcommittee/stakeholder meetings (quarterly)

web site comment form

Baseline Condition Assessment

vegetation

stream condition

Historical and Current Trend Assessment

Salt Lake City Public Utilities

Management Plan / Desired Future Conditions

Timeline and MilestonesTimeline and Milestones

Fall 2008 Winter 2009 Spring 2009 Summer 2009

Field Evaluation

Public Workshop 1

Public Workshop 2

Public Workshop 3

Public Workshop 4

Historical Trend

Assessment

High Flow Field

Evaluation

Identify Improvement Projects

Draft and Final

Mgt. Plans

Riparian Area Definition: Riparian Area Definition: • Zone of influence between aquatic and

upland areas

• Sometimes defined as including channel, floodplain, and transition zone

(Illustration by G. Zaimes; based on BLM 1991).

Riparian Corridor Functions:Riparian Corridor Functions:• Wildlife and Aquatic

Habitat– 60% of vertebrate species in arid

Southwest rely on riparian areas (Ohmart and Anderson 1982)

• Shading and Water-Temperature Control

• Aesthetics• Recreation and Open Space• Floodplain Storage

and Flood Damage Reduction

Riparian Corridor Functions:Riparian Corridor Functions:• Wildlife Travel

Corridors/Connectivity

• Organic Matter Inputs

• Stream Stability/Safety

• Pollution and Nutrient Filtration

• Storm Water and Irrigation Water Conveyance

Baseline Condition Baseline Condition AssessmentAssessment

Baseline Condition AssessmentBaseline Condition Assessment

Baseline Assessment Results Baseline Assessment Results ReviewReview• Aesthetics Function – Litter

• Wildlife Habitat Function – Invasive Plants

• Filtration Function – Lack of shrub and understory cover

• Stability Function– Erosion from storm runoff and

drain outfalls– Scour around concrete– Culverts narrower than channel

width– On-going stream channel

adjustments– Altered hydrology

Improvement Projects: Improvement Projects: Working Toward SolutionsWorking Toward Solutions

• Riparian Corridor Projects– General Projects

•Appropriate at any scale

– Local-scale Projects•Relevant to specific individual

locations or features (storm drain, culvert, etc.)

– Reach-scale Projects•Stream bed and bank stability

should be addressed at this scale

• Watershed-scale Projects

Figure from SLCO 2009

Riparian Corridor-scale Riparian Corridor-scale ProjectsProjects

General Projects : Stream General Projects : Stream CleanupCleanup

• Volunteer stream cleanup– Organize a group to pick up trash

along specific portions of the riparian corridor

• Mechanized trash cleanup– Heavy, over-sized items requiring

mechanical equipment to remove

• Stream adoption– http://www.adoptawaterbody.utah.gov/

• Continued public outreachFrom adoptawaterbody website

General Projects: Weed General Projects: Weed ManagementManagement• Weed Management and Revegetation

– Improve Habitat and Filtration Functions

• Weed-Management Techniques– Physical– Cultural – replant with desirable species– Biological– Chemical (herbicides)– Salt Lake County Natural Areas Plan

• Includes detailed information sheets by specieshttp://www.recreation.slco.org/planning/natural.html

General Projects : Weed General Projects : Weed ManagementManagement

General Projects : Weed General Projects : Weed ManagementManagement• Non-native invasive species common in riparian corridor but not on State or County “noxious weed” lists– English ivy and periwinkle

•Shallow root systems = poor stabilization•Low stem density = poor filtration•Exclude other plants•Habitat for rodents

– Siberian elm– Russian olive– Tamarisk– Tree of heaven

General Projects: RevegetationGeneral Projects: Revegetation• SLC Riparian Corridor Recommended

Plant List– Four lists according to mapped

vegetation community type– Canopy, shrub, understory species– Species appropriate for sun, shade, part

sun/shade

• Planting Techniques– Site and seedbed preparation– Seeding/planting guidelines– Protection from herbivory– “Fire-wise” plants –

http://www.utahfireinfo.gov/prevention/firewiseplants.pdf

General Projects: RevegetationGeneral Projects: Revegetation• SLC Riparian Corridor

Recommended Plant ListSpecies Name Sun Shade Part Sun/Shade

Gambel Oak Forest

Box Elder Forest*

Bigtooth Maple

Forest**

Narrowleaf cottonwood

Forest***

Narrowleaf cottonwood X X X X(Populus angustifolia)Chokecherry X X X X(Prunus virginiana )Peachleaf willow X X X X(Salix amygdaloides )Netleaf hackberry X X X(Celtis laevigata )Utah juniper X X X(Juniperus osteosperma )Douglas fir X X(Pseudotsuga menziessi )Twoneedle pine X X(Pinus edulis )Water birch X X(Betula occidentalis )Bigtooth maple X X X(Acer grandidentatum )Gray alder X X(Alnus incana )

Community TypesGrowing Conditions

Cano

py

General Projects: RevegetationGeneral Projects: Revegetation• General techniques appropriate for slopes

3:1 and flatter• Use geotextile for 3:1 to 2:1• Steeper than 2:1 requires structural/

engineered techniques

General Projects: RevegetationGeneral Projects: Revegetation• These general revegetation techniques

are recommended for:– Areas where invasive species have been removed– Areas disturbed by construction activities or utility

installation– Areas impacted by foot traffic, where future traffic

has been redirected or otherwise addressed

• NOT adequate for:– Slopes steeper than 2:1– Areas that are unstable due to stream erosion

processes– Areas that are unstable due to poorly controlled

runoff

• Need to understand why an area is not well vegetated

General Projects: General Projects: Bioengineered Slope Bioengineered Slope StabilizationStabilization• Use on slopes 2:1 or steeper

• Can be applied at various scales when slopes to be treated are above the AHWL

• When slopes extend to the AHWL and below, treatments should be applied at the reach scale and incorporate toe protection and grade control!

General Projects: General Projects: Bioengineered Slope Bioengineered Slope StabilizationStabilization

General Projects: General Projects: Bioengineered Slope Bioengineered Slope StabilizationStabilization

• Tiered vegetated cellular grids

Photos from NCHRP 544

Local-scale Projects: Outlet Local-scale Projects: Outlet ProtectionProtection• Recommend rock

and vegetation rather than concrete

• Stabilize conveyance channel as well as outlet

Local-scale Projects: Outlet Local-scale Projects: Outlet ProtectionProtection• Provide a stable path over entire

distance from pipe outlet to creek• Vegetated rock-lined swale is

recommended to provide some water quality treatment

• Where possible, avoid locating outlets within the active channel where they are subject to scour and channel change

Local-scale Projects: Outlet Local-scale Projects: Outlet ProtectionProtection

• Techniques appropriate for:– new storm drain

outfalls

– retrofits of existing outfalls that are in poor condition

– high-priority locations for retrofits are identified on project maps

Local–scale Projects: Stream Local–scale Projects: Stream CrossingsCrossings• These recommendations are applicable to new crossings and crossing replacements

• Bridge spanning full width of channel and active floodplain

Local-scale Projects: Stream Local-scale Projects: Stream CrossingsCrossings

• Box, arch, or large-diameter culvert with natural substrate bottom

• Open-bottom or bottom “fitted” with rock substrate

• Improved stability, conveyance, connectivity, and habitat functions relative to small-diameter culverts

• Reduced risk of cloggingDeer Creek Highway 189 crossing

Reach-scale Projects: Bed and Reach-scale Projects: Bed and Bank StabilizationBank Stabilization• Use in areas

within the AHWL, where conditions are affected by stream- channel adjustments

– streambed lowering

– bank scour

– channel migration

• Should implement comprehensively through reach from “hard point” to “hard point”

• “Local” scale approaches in adjusting reaches are unlikely to be long lasting

• “Local” scale stabilization often just sends the problem elsewhere

Reach Projects: Bed and Bank Reach Projects: Bed and Bank StabilizationStabilization

• Things to avoid:

– Treatments that protrude into the active channel and reduce width between banks

– Concrete or other smooth, impervious treatments

– Use of “hard” (nondeformable) bank treatments within acceptable meander zone

– Use of “hard” bank treatments above toe and lower bank zones

Reach Projects: Bed and Bank Reach Projects: Bed and Bank StabilizationStabilization

• DO:

– Give the stream as much width to adjust as possible

– Incorporate vegetation to the greatest extent possible

• Aesthetics

• Habitat

• Filtration/Water Quality

– Protect toe of bank to expected scour depth

– Incorporate grade control with bank stabilization

Reach Projects: Bed and Bank Reach Projects: Bed and Bank StabilizationStabilization

Reach Projects: Grade ControlReach Projects: Grade Control

Reach Projects: Toe ProtectionReach Projects: Toe Protection• Subexcavate to maximum depth of scour• Install rock sized to be immobile during flood

flows

Reach Projects: Bank Reach Projects: Bank StabilizationStabilization

• Applicable within and beyond riparian area

• Attempt to halt or reverse some of root causes of riparian corridor degradation

• Alterations to hydrology

• Alterations to sediment regime

• Point and non-point source pollution

Watershed-Scale ProjectsWatershed-Scale Projects

Figure from FISRWG (1998)

Figure from SLCO (2009)

Watershed-Scale ProjectsWatershed-Scale Projects• Lower Red Butte Creek watershed

is 32% impervious

Watershed-Scale ProjectsWatershed-Scale Projects• Manage and reduce impervious

surfaces– County WaQSP document includes

recommendations• Green roofs• Bioretention swales• Oil/water separators at gas stations• Porous pavement• Infiltration practices

– New development• U of U Research Park area• VA Hospital area

Figures from SLCO (2009)

Watershed-Scale ProjectsWatershed-Scale Projects• Retrofit existing development

– Seattle Public Utilities “natural drainage system” program

– Convert curb and gutter systems to bioretention swales, etc.

– Opportunities in your own yard• Infiltrate driveway and rooftop runoff

Watershed-Scale ProjectsWatershed-Scale Projects• Improve instream flows

– Investigate opportunities to secure and manage water rights for instream flows

– Improve groundwater recharge

• Increase construction inspections and enforcement of existing stormwater regulations– Reduce sediment/pollutant

inputs– Emphasize revegetation

Watershed-Scale ProjectsWatershed-Scale Projects• Conduct public

awareness campaign– Coordinate with U of U,

City Parks, etc. to show creeks on maps and web sites

– Neighborhood signs (e.g., “Yalecrest – Red Butte Creek Watershed”)

– Road signs – “crossing Red Butte Creek” etc.

– Storm drain stenciling– Sidewalk imprints

Improvement Projects - Improvement Projects - RankingRanking

• Identify high- vs. low-priority locations for each type of “local-scale” project (e.g., storm drains, culverts)

• Identify appropriate suite of projects for each reach

• Provide your input to determine which types of projects are highest priority

Summary of Workshop Series Summary of Workshop Series 1:1:Workshop Dates: October/November 2008

•Red Butte attendees: 16

•Red Butte comments: 2

•Emigration attendees: 27

•Emigration comments: 9

Summary of Workshop Series Summary of Workshop Series 2:2:Workshop Date: February 2009

•Red Butte Attendees: 24•Red Butte Comments: 5

•Emigration Attendees: 42•Emigration Comments: 3

What Is A Vision Statement?What Is A Vision Statement?• Defines desired or intended future

condition• Acts as a source of inspiration• Provides clear decision-making

criteria• Describes what will be achieved

Features Of An Effective Features Of An Effective Vision Statement:Vision Statement:

• Is clear and unambiguous

• Creates a vivid picture

• Describes a bright future

• Uses memorable and

engaging wording

• Embodies realistic aspirations

• Aligns with values and culture

Red Butte Creek Vision Red Butte Creek Vision Statement :Statement :• Introductory text (. . . a source for

inspiration)

• Supporting text (. . . desired future

conditions)

• Concluding text (. . . how to

implement)

Draft Vision Statement: Draft Vision Statement: IntroductoryIntroductory• The Red Butte Creek riparian corridor

is a highly valued natural resource that provides a refuge from the chaotic urban environment of the City. It is appreciated by the community for its relaxing and peaceful atmosphere, as well as for the visual and auditory benefits of a free-flowing stream. The riparian ecosystem is restored to the extent possible and provides many of the essential functions of a healthy natural ecosystem.

Draft Vision Statement: Draft Vision Statement: SupportingSupporting• To reach this vision, the following

riparian corridor functions must be realized:– a well-connected vegetative corridor

provides a diverse habitat for native wildlife– healthy, mature vegetation provides a

canopy to cool air and water temperatures; mid-level vegetation and ground cover allow for diverse wildlife habitat, erosion control, and filtration of sediment and pollutants

– an uninterrupted flow of clean, clear water supports a healthy cold-water fishery in the naturally perennial segments of the creek

Draft Vision Statement: Draft Vision Statement: SupportingSupporting– stream banks are stable but allow for natural

stream dynamics within acceptable limits for property owners

– the stream is recognized as a valuable asset by the community, with trash or debris and noxious weeds kept out of the stream bed and riparian corridor

– open space compliments the riparian corridor while allowing for accessible public enjoyment of the stream environment

– storm-water conveyances are upgraded to improve stream stability and water quality

– culverts along the stream are replaced to reduce stream-channel constrictions, provide energy dissipation, and improve stream-bed and bank stability

Draft Vision Statement: Draft Vision Statement: ConcludingConcludingThese efforts should be accomplished cooperatively between the City and Red Butte Creek riparian-corridor stakeholders, and property owners should be given a significant opportunity to provide input and implementation of proposed rehabilitation projects.

YOUR INPUT IS IMPORTANT!YOUR INPUT IS IMPORTANT!

• Identify improvement projects that are important to you.

• Suggest your revisions to the draft vision statement for the project.

• Ask project staff questions.

Ways to Comment and Ways to Comment and ParticipateParticipate

• Workshop Response Form

• SLC DPU Website (www.slch20.com)

• Contact SLC DPU: Florence Reynolds 801-483-6864 florence.reynolds @slcgov.com

THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING!PARTICIPATING!BIO-WEST Contacts:BIO-WEST Contacts:

Melissa StampMelissa [email protected]@bio-west.com

Christopher SandsChristopher [email protected]@bio-west.com