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 CORRIDOREXECUTIVE SUMMARYAttribute 5. Balanced fine and coarse sedimentbudgets.River reaches export fine and coarse sediment atrates approximately equal to sediment inputs. Theamount and mode of sediment storage within agiven river reach fluctuates, but sustains channelmorphology in dynamic quasi-equilibrium whenaveraged over many years. A balanced coarsesediment budget implies bedload continuity: mostparticle sizes of the channelbed must be transportedthrough the river reach;Attribute 6. Periodic channel migrationand/or avulsion.The channel migrates at variable rates andestablishes meander wavelengths consistent withregional rivers with similar flow regimes, valleyslopes, confinement, sediment supply, andsediment caliber. In gravel-bedded reaches,channel relocation can also occur by avulsion,where the channel moves from one location toanother, leaving much of the abandoned channelmorphology intact. In sand-bedded reaches,meanders decrease their radius of curvature overtime, and are eventually bisected, leavingoxbows;Attribute 7. A functional floodplain.On average, floodplains are inundated onceannually by high flows equaling or exceedingbankfull stage. Lower terraces are inundated byless frequent floods, with their expected inundationfrequencies dependent on norms exhibited bysimilar, but unregulated river channels. Thesefloods also deposit finer sediment onto thefloodplain and low terraces;Attribute 8. Infrequent channel resettingfloods.Single large floods (e.g., exceeding 10-yr to 20-yrrecurrences) cause channel avulsions, rejuvenatemature riparian stands to early-successionalstages, form and maintain side channels, andcreate off-channel wetlands (e.g., oxbows).Resetting floods are as critical for creating andmaintaining channel complexity as lessermagnitude floods, but occur less frequently;Attribute 9. Self-sustaining diverse riparian plantcommunities.Based on species life history strategies andinundation patterns, initiation and mortality ofnatural woody riparian plants culminate in earlyandlate-successional stand structures andspecies diversities (canopy and understory)characteristic of self-sustaining riparian communitiescommon to regional unregulated rivercorridors;Attribute 10. Naturally-fluctuatinggroundwater table.Groundwater tables within the floodway arehydrologically connected to the river, andfluctuate on an inter-annual and seasonal basiswith river flows. Groundwater and soil moistureon floodplains, terraces, sloughs, and adjacentwetlands are supported by this hydrologicconnectivity.Supplemental InvestigationsThe Restoration Plan provides analyses ofhistorical and contemporary hydrologic, fluvialgeomorphic, riparian, and chinook salmon habitatconditions to the extent that data were available,incorporating relevant information from publishedliterature and professional experience, andfrom the extensive investigations on salmonecology conducted on the Tuolumne River by theTID/MID, USFWS and CDFG. In addition, theRestoration Plan conducted geomorphic andriparian investigations to determine the extent towhich specific Attributes are attained underregulated sediment and streamflow conditions,and to provide baseline data for evaluatingrestoration options. These evaluations included:• Fluvial geomorphic processes: identify reachesthat impede gravel transport, estimatestreamflow thresholds for gravel transport,measure gravel and sand transport ratesdownstream of La Grange Dam, identify finesediment sources, evaluate the M.J. Ruddy 4-Pumps restoration project, and develop channeldesign objectives based on these evaluations;• High flow releases: Consider ways to re-operateflood control releases to achieve fluvial geomorphicthresholds;xx
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY• Aggregate source inventory: Locate andestimate volumes of aggregate sources alongthe Tuolumne and Merced Rivers that areavailable for restoration purposes;• Riparian vegetation evaluation: conduct acomprehensive, corridor-wide riparian inventory,and develop relationships between fluvialgeomorphic processes and natural riparianregeneration.Goals and Objectives of the Restoration PlanThe heart of the Restoration Plan is provided in aset of principles and actions that, if fully implemented,would help re-establish fluvial geomorphicfunctions, processes, and characteristics,within contemporary regulated flow and sedimentconditions. This strategy will most effectivelypromote the recovery and maintenance of aresilient, naturally producing chinook salmonpopulation and the river’s natural animal andplant communities. These principles and actionsare contained in five progressively more detailedsections in Chapter 4, including: (1) a statementof restoration goals and objectives, includingexisting programs (CDFG, USFWS/AFRP, andCALFED), the FERC Settlement Agreementgoals and objectives, and river-wide restorationgoals developed in this Plan, (2) formulation ofappropriate restoration strategies for the gravelbeddedand sand-bedded zones, and for each ofthe seven reaches of the Tuolumne River, (3)specific restoration and preservation approachesthat are appropriate for different restorationneeds, (4) identification of restoration sites alongthe entire 52 mile corridor, contained in acomprehensive list with specific information foreach site, and finally (5) a set of restorationconceptual designs for 14 high priority projects,which should be among the first group of projectsto be implemented.The long-term goals for restoring the TuolumneRiver, developed in this Restoration Plan, are:• A continuous river floodway from La GrangeDam to the confluence with the San JoaquinRiver with capacity that safely conveys at least15,000 cfs above Dry Creek and 20,000 cfsbelow Dry Creek;• A continuous riparian corridor from La GrangeDam to the San Joaquin River confluence, witha width exceeding 500 ft minimum in thegravel-bedded zone to a width up to 2,000 ftnear the San Joaquin River;• A dynamic alluvial channel, maintained by floodhydrographs of variable magnitude and frequencyadequate to periodically initiate fluvialgeomorphic processes (e.g., mobilize channelbedsurface, scour and replenish gravel bars,inundate floodplains, and promote channelmigration);• Variable streamflows, such as during chinookspawning, rearing and emigration, to benefitsalmon and other aquatic resources.• A secure gravel supply to replace graveltransported by the high flow regime, thusmaintaining the quantity and quality of alluvialdeposits that provide chinook salmon habitat;• Bedload transport continuity throughout allreaches;• Chinook salmon habitat created and maintainedby natural processes, sustaining a resilient,naturally reproducing chinook salmon population;• Self-sustaining, dynamic, native woody riparianvegetation;• Continual revision of the adaptive managementprogram, addressing areas of scientific uncertaintythat will improve our understanding ofriver ecosystem processes and refine futurerestoration and management;• Public awareness and involvement in theTuolumne River restoration effort;• A clean river. Our perception of a river’sintrinsic value is largely based on visualaesthetics. To most people, a clean river isworth caring for, and the public will be moreconscious of keeping it clean.Restoration Approaches and Site IdentificationA fundamental component of the Restoration Planwas to identify and describe potential restorationsites along the lower Tuolumne River corridor.Restoration sites were identified through severalmethods, and assessed during numerous fieldvisits. Vital statistics for each site (including rivermile and reach location, area, project type,property ownership, a project description andprescription) were tabulated and entered into theTuolumne River GIS. This comprehensive effortresulted in 184 potential restoration sites. Goingfrom 184 potential restoration sites to on-thegroundimplementation requires a technically validprioritization procedure, extensive landownerparticipation and support, planning, projectEXECUTIVE SUMMARYxxi
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CHAPTER 3100Elevation (ft)110105100
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CHAPTER 3104Elevation (ft)195190185
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CHAPTER 3108Table 3-8. Wy 1970-1997
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134Relative elevation (ft)140130120
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CHAPTER 3136Relative elevation (ft)
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ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT5. ADAPTIVE MANA
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ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENTmonitoring progr
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ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENTWILDLIFE POPULAT
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ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT• Distribution
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REFERENCESREFERENCESAlderdice, D. F
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REFERENCESKjelson, M. A., P. F. Raq
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REFERENCESTID (Turlock Irrigation D
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APPENDIX AAPPENDIX AANNUAL HYDROGRA
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APPENDIX BAPPENDIX BTUOLUMNE RIVER
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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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