Tuolumne River Report - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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TUOLUMNE RIVER TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEEHABITAT RESTORATION PLAN FOR THE LOWER TUOLUMNE RIVER CORRIDORCHAPTER 4Conceptual designs were developed for thefollowing restoration projects, and summaries ofthe project background, objectives, projectdescriptions, and estimated costs are providedbelow:1. Special Run Pool 5 (RM 32.9 to 33.4)2. Special Run Pool 6 (RM 30.2 to 30.9)3. Special Run Pool 9 (RM 25.6 to 25.9)4. Special Run Pool 10 (RM 25.2 to 25.6)5. Gravel Mining Reach Phase I (RM 37.7 to40.3)6. Gravel Mining Reach Phase II (RM 36.6 to37.7)7. Gravel Mining Reach Phase III (RM 35.2 to36.6)8. Gravel Mining Reach Phase IV (RM 34.3 to35.2)9. Sediment Management and ImplementationPlan10. Gasburg Creek Sedimentation Basin (RM50.4)11. Dredger Tailing Reach Phase I (RM 45.4 to46.5)12. Dredger Tailing Reach Phase II (RM 43.8 to45.4)13. Dredger Tailing Reach Phase III (RM 42.2 to43.8)14. Basso Spawning Reach Floodplain Restoration(RM 47.6 to 50.5)Several projects that were not included in the listof 14 channel restoration projects deserveadditional discussion. First, the bedload impedancereach between Riffle 5B (RM 47.9) and thelate Riffle 6 (RM 47.0) presently preventssediment transport through it, and will continueto do so in the future. Gravel introduced as part ofthe sediment management program will becomedeposited here and not route downstream toreplenish the dredger tailing reach until thisbedload impedance reach is fixed. Channelrestoration and/or gravel additions in the dredgertailing reach will restore a large source of gravelfor downstream movement, but over the longtermwill be depleted until this impedance reachis filled. Any property in the dredger tailing reachthat becomes available for fee title purchase orconservation easement should be pursued. Thisreach has substantial salmon and riparianproduction presently, and there is considerablepotential to improve conditions in this reach.River front properties and those containing gravelsources should be prioritized for preservation andrestoration or material sources, respectively.The remaining two projects are SRP 7 (RM 26.0 to27.8) and SRP 8 (RM 27.9 to 29.5), which areextremely large remnant instream aggregateextraction pits. The cost to restore these pits islarge (over $5 million each). Restoration of twosimilar sites (SRP 9 and 10) are underway, andwe recommend that their effectiveness be evaluatedbefore proceeding with additional pit fillingprojects in the future to determine their costeffectiveness.These three projects should befurther developed in the near future within anexpanded list of projects.An additional three projects that are currentlybeing developed also warrant discussion. The“Grayson River Ranch Project” is a 140 acrefloodplain parcel on the south bank of theTuolumne River between river miles 5 and 6. Theproperty owners applied for and received a“perpetual conservation easement” for theirproperty in response to the 1997 flood andfrequent past flooding. The USDA NaturalResources Conservation Service administerseasement agreements in cooperation with the EastStanislaus County Resource ConservationDistrict, linking with various local, state, federal,and non-profit partners for funding and restorationcoordination.In the upper river, the “Bobcat Flat Project”involves the potential acquisition of a 280 acreparcel. The project involves the fee acquisition ofa large floodplain with two miles of river frontagein the dredger tailing reach. It has significantpotential for enhanced natural floodplain function.The proposal was submitted by the Friendsof the Tuolumne, and funding for the purchaseand restoration has been approved by CALFED.Finally, the City of Modesto has begun developmentand implementation of the “Tuolumne RiverRegional Parkway”, centered in the City ofModesto. This project includes revision of theJoint Powers Authority General Plan, developmentof the Gateway Parcel located downtown Modestonear the Ninth St. Bridge, and potentially extensiverestoration of riparian zones.158
RESTORING THE TUOLUMNE RIVER CORRIDOR4.5. SUMMARY OF 14 CHANNELRESTORATION PROJECTS4.5.1. Special Run Pool 5 ChannelRestoration ProjectBackgroundSRP 5 is a remnant instream aggregate extractionarea. Prior to aggregate extraction, this site wasdominated by a large right bank point bar withdiverse riparian vegetation. The point bar wasexcavated to a depth of 8-10 ft below the lowwater surface. Presently, the bedload supply toSRP 5 is from local erosion of the bed and banks,and supply is very small. Restoring SRP 5 inconjunction with upstream projects will restorebedload transport continuity from RM 40.3downstream to SRP 6 at RM 30.6 (more than30% of the gravel-bedded reach). Bedload canthen be used by the river to build and maintaindynamic gravel bars (available for chinookhabitat) rather than filling old pits. Restoring SRP5 is thus an important link to re-establishingfluvial processes in the gravel-bedded reaches ofthe Tuolumne River.Additionally, SRP’s limit chinook salmon survivalbecause the unnaturally wide channel and deepwater conditions offer suitable habitat to nonnativelargemouth and smallmouth bass, and thenative Sacramento squawfish, all of which preyon juvenile chinook salmon. Because a majorityof chinook spawning in the Tuolumne Riveroccurs upstream of this location, most juvenilesmust pass through this reach. Reducing predationshould therefore increase Tuolumne River smoltproduction.Project ObjectivesSpecial Run-Pool 5 (SRP 5) is located approximately17 miles east of Modesto and extends fromRM 32.9 to 33.4. The project will restore a twostagechannel morphology scaled to the presentand future flow regime, facilitate sedimenttransport and routing, restore chinook salmonhabitat, and increase riparian vegetation. Specificobjectives of the project are:• Reduce/eliminate habitat favored by predatorybass species, and replace with high qualitychinook salmon habitat.• Restore channel and planform morphologyscaled to contemporary and future sediment andhydrologic regimes.• Restore sediment transport continuity andeliminate bedload impedance reaches.• Revegetate reconstructed floodplains andterraces with native woody riparian species,planted on surfaces designed to inundate atdischarges appropriate for each species/serieslife cycles.• Link restored reaches upstream (Reed site;Gravel Mining Reach) with planned restorationactivities downstream (SRP 6) to restoreecological and geomorphological connectivityto reaches containing important chinooksalmon habitat.Project DescriptionThe project will reverse the impact of instreammining by filling the instream pit and restoringan alternate bar sequence through the reach,requiring approximately 175,000 yd 3 of fillmaterial. SRP 5 is located where the valley wallsnaturally confine the floodway to less than 550 ftwide. Since the valley walls are essentially nonerodible,bank protection is unnecessary. Ameander bend will be located against the northernbluff, with a 20 to 30 foot floodplain buffer toallow the channel space to migrate. The designattempts to minimize fill by retaining 8 footdepths to the pools, and restoring only one valleyoak terrace. Aggregate should be used to rebuildmost of the channel (108,000 yd 3 ), but topsoil/wash material will be used for floodplain andterrace surfaces (67,000 yd 3 ).The proposed design will also re-establish plantseries patterns identified during the riparianinventory, including willow and alder stands,Fremont cottonwood, and valley oaks, planted onsurfaces successively distant and at higherelevations, respectively, relative to the low waterchannel. Floodplains should be designed toinundate at approximately the post-NDPP 1.5 to2.5-yr flood frequency. Cluster planting willcreate a more natural look to the site, easewatering and maintenance, and increase habitatdiversity. Irrigation will be required for twosummers. Revegetation materials will comeeither from on-site sources (valley oak seeds,willow cuttings, cottonwood cuttings), or fromlocal nurseries (sedges, alder, and Oregon ash).CHAPTER 4159
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Habitat Restoration Plan for theLow
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TUOLUMNE RIVER TECHNICAL ADVISORY C
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CHAPTER 226Table 2-5. Revised minim
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CHAPTER 2TUOLUMNE RIVER TECHNICAL A
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CHAPTER 2TUOLUMNE RIVER TECHNICAL A
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CHAPTER 3100Elevation (ft)110105100
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CHAPTER 3104Elevation (ft)195190185
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Page 158 and 159: 134Relative elevation (ft)140130120
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Page 202 and 203: REFERENCESREFERENCESAlderdice, D. F
Page 204 and 205: REFERENCESKjelson, M. A., P. F. Raq
Page 206 and 207: REFERENCESTID (Turlock Irrigation D
Page 208 and 209: APPENDIX AAPPENDIX AANNUAL HYDROGRA
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VEGETATION SERIESNATURAL DIVERSITY
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VEGETATION SERIESNATURAL DIVERSITY
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Nature Conservancy Heritage Program
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215Scientific Name Common Name Loca
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APPENDIX BAPPENDIX B217
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