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• 1. [Article] Effects of Tide Gate Replacement on Water Temperature ina Freshwater Slough in the Columbia River Estuary

  Dramatic declines in salmon populations in the Pacific Northwest have brought new attention to the importance of estuarine rearing habitats. Levees and tide gates used to convert estuarine wetlands into ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Effects of Tide Gate Replacement on Water Temperature ina Freshwater Slough in the Columbia River Estuary Author: Ennis, Sara Year: 2009 Dramatic declines in salmon populations in the Pacific Northwest have brought new attention to the importance of estuarine rearing habitats. Levees and tide gates used to convert estuarine wetlands into farmland have reduced available habitat by more than half of historical levels. Recent efforts to restore estuarine habitats include tide gate replacement, though this method has been poorly studied. As a key indicator of salmon habitat suitability, temperature was used to evaluate the effects of tide gate replacement in a tidally influenced freshwater slough in the Lower Columbia River estuary. Three tide gates in the largest slough on Tenasillahe Island were replaced in 2007 with side-hinged aluminum gates. As managed during the data collection periods, the new tide gates did not allow tidal inflow into the slough. The study employed a Before-After, Control-Impact (BACI) approach, collecting data seasonally two years before and after replacement at the impact site and at the control site, a relatively unaltered slough on nearby Welch Island. Randomized Intervention Analysis and Monte Carlo tests revealed no significant difference in slough water temperatures after tide gate replacement, although minimum temperatures dropped up and downstream of the tide gates. Although the new tide gates did not have a significant effect on water temperature, the lower minimum temperatures may have been caused by a slight increase in tidal circulation. This result suggests that slough temperatures would decrease if the tide gates were managed to increase tidal inflow, and thus improve the quality of salmon rearing habitat. Title: Effects of Tide Gate Replacement on Water Temperature ina Freshwater Slough in the Columbia River Estuary Author: Ennis, Sara Year: 2009 Dramatic declines in salmon populations in the Pacific Northwest have brought new attention to the importance of estuarine rearing habitats. Levees and tide gates used to convert estuarine wetlands into farmland have reduced available habitat by more than half of historical levels. Recent efforts to restore estuarine habitats include tide gate replacement, though this method has been poorly studied. As a key indicator of salmon habitat suitability, temperature was used to evaluate the effects of tide gate replacement in a tidally influenced freshwater slough in the Lower Columbia River estuary. Three tide gates in the largest slough on Tenasillahe Island were replaced in 2007 with side-hinged aluminum gates. As managed during the data collection periods, the new tide gates did not allow tidal inflow into the slough. The study employed a Before-After, Control-Impact (BACI) approach, collecting data seasonally two years before and after replacement at the impact site and at the control site, a relatively unaltered slough on nearby Welch Island. Randomized Intervention Analysis and Monte Carlo tests revealed no significant difference in slough water temperatures after tide gate replacement, although minimum temperatures dropped up and downstream of the tide gates. Although the new tide gates did not have a significant effect on water temperature, the lower minimum temperatures may have been caused by a slight increase in tidal circulation. This result suggests that slough temperatures would decrease if the tide gates were managed to increase tidal inflow, and thus improve the quality of salmon rearing habitat. Close

• 2. [Article] Modeling the effectiveness of riparian restoration on stream shading in the Clackamas River Basin

  Rivers and streams within the Clackamas River Basin are not currently meeting water quality standards in terms of temperature. The Clackamas River Basin Council (CRBC) designed a restoration program to ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Modeling the effectiveness of riparian restoration on stream shading in the Clackamas River Basin Author: Barksdale, Rachel Year: 2017 Rivers and streams within the Clackamas River Basin are not currently meeting water quality standards in terms of temperature. The Clackamas River Basin Council (CRBC) designed a restoration program to address the thermal loading on behalf of Portland General Electric (PGE) in which native trees and shrubs are planted along streams to restore riparian canopy cover. Solar radiation can be blocked by restoring canopy cover and is an effective way to provide shade, as well as providing ancillary environmental benefits such as enhanced wildlife habitat and erosion control. Stream and vegetation data were collected at nine sites to model the increase in shade from the restoration plantings. Using DEQ’s Shade-a-lator model, shade was predicted in future scenarios at 10, 20, and 50 years compared to the current baseline condition. Modeling results suggest increases in shade at each site, which will help to mitigate excessive thermal inputs. The predicted scenarios provide a framework to evaluate the effectiveness of CRBC’s restoration program. Title: Modeling the effectiveness of riparian restoration on stream shading in the Clackamas River Basin Author: Barksdale, Rachel Year: 2017 Rivers and streams within the Clackamas River Basin are not currently meeting water quality standards in terms of temperature. The Clackamas River Basin Council (CRBC) designed a restoration program to address the thermal loading on behalf of Portland General Electric (PGE) in which native trees and shrubs are planted along streams to restore riparian canopy cover. Solar radiation can be blocked by restoring canopy cover and is an effective way to provide shade, as well as providing ancillary environmental benefits such as enhanced wildlife habitat and erosion control. Stream and vegetation data were collected at nine sites to model the increase in shade from the restoration plantings. Using DEQ’s Shade-a-lator model, shade was predicted in future scenarios at 10, 20, and 50 years compared to the current baseline condition. Modeling results suggest increases in shade at each site, which will help to mitigate excessive thermal inputs. The predicted scenarios provide a framework to evaluate the effectiveness of CRBC’s restoration program. Close

• 3. [Article] Comparison of Fish Assemblages in Restored and Natural Mangrove Habitats Along an Urban Shoreline

  The installation of living shorelines is one strategy used to ameliorate habitat degradation along developed coastlines. In this process, existing hard structures, such as sea walls and riprap revetments, ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Comparison of Fish Assemblages in Restored and Natural Mangrove Habitats Along an Urban Shoreline Author: Peters, Joseph R., Yeager, Laura A., Layman, Craig A. Year: 2015 The installation of living shorelines is one strategy used to ameliorate habitat degradation along developed coastlines. In this process, existing hard structures, such as sea walls and riprap revetments, are supplemented with habitat forming species, e.g., oysters and mangrove trees, to improve habitat quality and function. Shoreline restorations in Biscayne Bay, Florida, USA, often utilize red mangroves, Rhizophora mangle (Linneaus, 1753), in addition to riprap revetments, to help stabilize the shoreline. This riprap-mangrove habitat provides structure for marine organisms to utilize and is believed to improve shoreline habitats in areas previously cleared of mangroves. We examined whether habitat provisioning was similar between restored mangrove habitat with the inclusion of riprap boulders and natural mangrove shorelines. We compared fish assemblages between natural mangrove and riprapmangrove habitats within two areas of northern Biscayne Bay. Fish community structure and certain benthic cover types varied between mangroves and riprap-mangrove habitats. Total fish abundance was greater in mangrove habitat, while taxonomic richness was highest in riprap-mangrove sites in the northern part of the bay. Our findings suggest that fish assemblages and community structure are different between these habitat types, although the geographic context may mediate the effect of habitat type. Therefore, it is likely that these restored mangroves provide different ecological services than unaltered mangrove shorelines. Title: Comparison of Fish Assemblages in Restored and Natural Mangrove Habitats Along an Urban Shoreline Author: Peters, Joseph R., Yeager, Laura A., Layman, Craig A. Year: 2015 The installation of living shorelines is one strategy used to ameliorate habitat degradation along developed coastlines. In this process, existing hard structures, such as sea walls and riprap revetments, are supplemented with habitat forming species, e.g., oysters and mangrove trees, to improve habitat quality and function. Shoreline restorations in Biscayne Bay, Florida, USA, often utilize red mangroves, Rhizophora mangle (Linneaus, 1753), in addition to riprap revetments, to help stabilize the shoreline. This riprap-mangrove habitat provides structure for marine organisms to utilize and is believed to improve shoreline habitats in areas previously cleared of mangroves. We examined whether habitat provisioning was similar between restored mangrove habitat with the inclusion of riprap boulders and natural mangrove shorelines. We compared fish assemblages between natural mangrove and riprapmangrove habitats within two areas of northern Biscayne Bay. Fish community structure and certain benthic cover types varied between mangroves and riprap-mangrove habitats. Total fish abundance was greater in mangrove habitat, while taxonomic richness was highest in riprap-mangrove sites in the northern part of the bay. Our findings suggest that fish assemblages and community structure are different between these habitat types, although the geographic context may mediate the effect of habitat type. Therefore, it is likely that these restored mangroves provide different ecological services than unaltered mangrove shorelines. Close

• 4. [Article] Pine Creek Conservation Area: 2013 Mapping and Monitoring Report

  Pine Creek Conservation Area (PCCA), just northeast of the John Day River in Wheeler County, Oregon, was acquired in 1999-2001 by the Confederate Tribes of Warm Springs with support from the Bonneville ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Pine Creek Conservation Area: 2013 Mapping and Monitoring Report Author: Nielsen, Eric M., Noone, Matthew D., Kagan, James S., Lee, Matthew T. Year: 2013 Pine Creek Conservation Area (PCCA), just northeast of the John Day River in Wheeler County, Oregon, was acquired in 1999-2001 by the Confederate Tribes of Warm Springs with support from the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), to mitigate for wildlife losses created by the large, hydropower Columbia River Dams, particularly the Bonneville, Dalles and John Day Dams. Many thousands of acres of grassland, shrub steppe and riparian habitats were lost due to inundation, and the objectives of the acquisition included restoration of similar habitats. As part of an interagency agreement created in 2002, the Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center established a baseline monitoring program in 2002. This effort included the establishment of permanent monitoring plots to allow for a detailed assessment of vegetation change in the plant communities occurring at the site. It also included the development of an existing vegetation map, hopefully to allow for an analysis of overall vegetation change across the conservation area. The map showed the distribution of western juniper, native grasslands, big sagebrush, and weed-dominated areas at the site. In the eight years since the original map was made, a series of management actions, including juniper clearing, prescribed fires, and riparian restoration activities have significantly changed the vegetation at PCCA. In the spring and summer of 2010, the Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, now the Oregon Biodiversity Information Center at Portland State University, visited the area to assist the land manager in developing a strategy for meeting the information needs of the Tribes and BPA in evaluating the success of the first decade of restoration. This report details that effort, which incorporated a combination of field inspection, photo-interpretation, and remote sensing-based mapping to assess change since the establishment of the conservation area, to lay a new baseline against which to measure future change, and most importantly to provide detailed information useful for land management decision making in the continuing restoration efforts. Title: Pine Creek Conservation Area: 2013 Mapping and Monitoring Report Author: Nielsen, Eric M., Noone, Matthew D., Kagan, James S., Lee, Matthew T. Year: 2013 Pine Creek Conservation Area (PCCA), just northeast of the John Day River in Wheeler County, Oregon, was acquired in 1999-2001 by the Confederate Tribes of Warm Springs with support from the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), to mitigate for wildlife losses created by the large, hydropower Columbia River Dams, particularly the Bonneville, Dalles and John Day Dams. Many thousands of acres of grassland, shrub steppe and riparian habitats were lost due to inundation, and the objectives of the acquisition included restoration of similar habitats. As part of an interagency agreement created in 2002, the Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center established a baseline monitoring program in 2002. This effort included the establishment of permanent monitoring plots to allow for a detailed assessment of vegetation change in the plant communities occurring at the site. It also included the development of an existing vegetation map, hopefully to allow for an analysis of overall vegetation change across the conservation area. The map showed the distribution of western juniper, native grasslands, big sagebrush, and weed-dominated areas at the site. In the eight years since the original map was made, a series of management actions, including juniper clearing, prescribed fires, and riparian restoration activities have significantly changed the vegetation at PCCA. In the spring and summer of 2010, the Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, now the Oregon Biodiversity Information Center at Portland State University, visited the area to assist the land manager in developing a strategy for meeting the information needs of the Tribes and BPA in evaluating the success of the first decade of restoration. This report details that effort, which incorporated a combination of field inspection, photo-interpretation, and remote sensing-based mapping to assess change since the establishment of the conservation area, to lay a new baseline against which to measure future change, and most importantly to provide detailed information useful for land management decision making in the continuing restoration efforts. Close

• 5. [Article] Efficacy of Plastic Mesh Tubes in Reducing Herbivory Damage by the Invasive Nutria (Myocastor coypus) in an Urban Restoration Site

  The restoration of stream corridors is becoming an increasingly important component of urban landscape planning, and the high cost of these projects necessitates the need to understand and address potential ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Efficacy of Plastic Mesh Tubes in Reducing Herbivory Damage by the Invasive Nutria (Myocastor coypus) in an Urban Restoration Site Author: Sheffels, Trevor R., Sytsma, Mark D., Carter, Jacoby, Taylor, Jimmy D. Year: 2014 The restoration of stream corridors is becoming an increasingly important component of urban landscape planning, and the high cost of these projects necessitates the need to understand and address potential ecological obstacles to project success. The nutria (Myocastor coypus) is an invasive, semi-aquatic rodent native to South America that causes detrimental ecological impacts in riparian and wetland habitats throughout its introduced range, and techniques are needed to reduce nutria herbivory damage to urban stream restoration projects. We assessed the efficacy of standard Vexar® plastic mesh tubes in reducing nutria herbivory damage to newly established woody plants. The study was conducted in winter-spring 2009 at Delta Ponds, a 60-ha urban waterway in Eugene, Oregon. Woody plants protected by Vexar® tubes demonstrated 100% survival over the 3-month initial establishment period, while only 17% of unprotected plantings survived. Nutria demonstrated a preference for black cottonwood(Populus balsamifera ssp trichocarpa) over red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea) and willow (Salix spp). Camera surveillance showed that nutria were more active in unprotected rather than protected treatments. Our results suggest that Vexar® plastic mesh tubing can be an effective short-term herbivory mitigation tool when habitat use by nutria is low. Additionally, planting functionally equivalent woody plant species that are less preferred by nutria, and other herbivores, may be another method for reducing herbivory and improving revegetation success. This study highlights the need to address potential wildlife damage conflicts in the planning process for stream restoration in urban landscapes. Title: Efficacy of Plastic Mesh Tubes in Reducing Herbivory Damage by the Invasive Nutria (Myocastor coypus) in an Urban Restoration Site Author: Sheffels, Trevor R., Sytsma, Mark D., Carter, Jacoby, Taylor, Jimmy D. Year: 2014 The restoration of stream corridors is becoming an increasingly important component of urban landscape planning, and the high cost of these projects necessitates the need to understand and address potential ecological obstacles to project success. The nutria (Myocastor coypus) is an invasive, semi-aquatic rodent native to South America that causes detrimental ecological impacts in riparian and wetland habitats throughout its introduced range, and techniques are needed to reduce nutria herbivory damage to urban stream restoration projects. We assessed the efficacy of standard Vexar® plastic mesh tubes in reducing nutria herbivory damage to newly established woody plants. The study was conducted in winter-spring 2009 at Delta Ponds, a 60-ha urban waterway in Eugene, Oregon. Woody plants protected by Vexar® tubes demonstrated 100% survival over the 3-month initial establishment period, while only 17% of unprotected plantings survived. Nutria demonstrated a preference for black cottonwood(Populus balsamifera ssp trichocarpa) over red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea) and willow (Salix spp). Camera surveillance showed that nutria were more active in unprotected rather than protected treatments. Our results suggest that Vexar® plastic mesh tubing can be an effective short-term herbivory mitigation tool when habitat use by nutria is low. Additionally, planting functionally equivalent woody plant species that are less preferred by nutria, and other herbivores, may be another method for reducing herbivory and improving revegetation success. This study highlights the need to address potential wildlife damage conflicts in the planning process for stream restoration in urban landscapes. Close

• 6. [Article] Macroinvertebrate Community Analysis on lower Hood River Before and During the Removal of Powerdale Dam: A Baseline Study

  Powerdale Dam was an 87-year-old hydroelectric complex on lower Hood River in northern Oregon which was decommissioned in 2010. Macroinvertebrate samples were collected in 2009, before the removal process ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Macroinvertebrate Community Analysis on lower Hood River Before and During the Removal of Powerdale Dam: A Baseline Study Author: Patterson, Howard J. Year: 2001 Powerdale Dam was an 87-year-old hydroelectric complex on lower Hood River in northern Oregon which was decommissioned in 2010. Macroinvertebrate samples were collected in 2009, before the removal process began, and in 2010, near the end of the demolition project, at one site upstream and three sites downstream of the dam. Macroinvertebrate communities were analyzed using both multi-metric (Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity [B-IBI]) and multivariate (Predictive Assessment Tool for Oregon [PREDATOR]) approaches, as well as EPT and Functional Feeding Group (FFG) analysis. All analytical approaches indicated declines in habitat quality in 2010 relative to 2009, and showed increasing impairment in the downstream sites in 2010, with sediment implicated as an impairment factor. Pollutants such as pesticides released from the impoundment might also contribute to downstream disturbance levels. The upstream, control site showed habitat quality declines in 2010 relative to 2009, indicating a possible upstream source of impairment. The demolition project did not physically impact upstream areas, and tributary turbidity does not appear to have been elevated relative to other years; however, the Hilsenhoff Biotic Index indicates an increase in upstream nutrient pollution in 2010 relative to 2009. Future research will be able to establish rate and extent of post-removal habitat recovery relative to these baseline data. Title: Macroinvertebrate Community Analysis on lower Hood River Before and During the Removal of Powerdale Dam: A Baseline Study Author: Patterson, Howard J. Year: 2001 Powerdale Dam was an 87-year-old hydroelectric complex on lower Hood River in northern Oregon which was decommissioned in 2010. Macroinvertebrate samples were collected in 2009, before the removal process began, and in 2010, near the end of the demolition project, at one site upstream and three sites downstream of the dam. Macroinvertebrate communities were analyzed using both multi-metric (Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity [B-IBI]) and multivariate (Predictive Assessment Tool for Oregon [PREDATOR]) approaches, as well as EPT and Functional Feeding Group (FFG) analysis. All analytical approaches indicated declines in habitat quality in 2010 relative to 2009, and showed increasing impairment in the downstream sites in 2010, with sediment implicated as an impairment factor. Pollutants such as pesticides released from the impoundment might also contribute to downstream disturbance levels. The upstream, control site showed habitat quality declines in 2010 relative to 2009, indicating a possible upstream source of impairment. The demolition project did not physically impact upstream areas, and tributary turbidity does not appear to have been elevated relative to other years; however, the Hilsenhoff Biotic Index indicates an increase in upstream nutrient pollution in 2010 relative to 2009. Future research will be able to establish rate and extent of post-removal habitat recovery relative to these baseline data. Close

• 7. [Article] Administrative Design for Yakima-Klickitat Production Project: Final Report

  This report provides the administrative design to implement the Yakima/Klickitat Production Project. This project is a scientifically designed salmon fishery restoration project funded by the Bonneville ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Administrative Design for Yakima-Klickitat Production Project: Final Report Author: Churchill, Jack, Shissler, Lee, Edner, Sheldon, Smith, Randy Year: 1990 This report provides the administrative design to implement the Yakima/Klickitat Production Project. This project is a scientifically designed salmon fishery restoration project funded by the Bonneville Power Administration in compliance with the .fishery policies established by the Northwest Power Planning Council under the authority of the Northwest Power Planning Act. This project breaks new ground in the field of fishery management. It is the first full scale application of supplementation technology directed toward maintaining and rebuilding native fish stocks and sub stocks with hatchery rearing methods. The work of the organization is an inherently more complex production function than traditional fish hatchery operations. This is in part because the project requires a high level of continuing quality control. It is also due in part because the fisheries management takes place over an extended geographical space of the watershed. The pre-design work for this project has been underway since 1987 by an ad hoc planning group composed of representative of the Yakima Indian Nation, the Washington Department of Fisheries and the Washington Department of Wildlife, and private consultants under funding of the Bonneville Power Administration. The project experimental design has been developed by the Experimental Design Work Group. The Bonneville Power Administration is contracting for design and construction of the fish rearing facilities. The research challenge was to design an organization to .implement the adaptive management concept of biological systems management. The management of complex biological systems such as salmon fish runs is character:ized by a high degree of uncertainty. Management for uncertain outcomes requires an organizational process that will induce a continuing learning atmosphere. Over time, most bureaucratic organizations suffer from inertia and are not conducive to a learning environment. Research methods involved the review of literature and related administrative experience, an interview process, a modified Delphi questionnaire, a series of group dynamic exercises, and observation of the work teams during the last six months of the planing process. The results of our research suggest that a new non-profit corporation be formed to implement the program under the direction of the three primary fish management basin agencies. The corporation should have flexibility and the organization will be phased in during the five year planning and construction cycle. A primary result of our research is the conclusion that the team management concept be the dominant organizational unit for both management of field operations and for management of scientific design and evaluation. Title: Administrative Design for Yakima-Klickitat Production Project: Final Report Author: Churchill, Jack, Shissler, Lee, Edner, Sheldon, Smith, Randy Year: 1990 This report provides the administrative design to implement the Yakima/Klickitat Production Project. This project is a scientifically designed salmon fishery restoration project funded by the Bonneville Power Administration in compliance with the .fishery policies established by the Northwest Power Planning Council under the authority of the Northwest Power Planning Act. This project breaks new ground in the field of fishery management. It is the first full scale application of supplementation technology directed toward maintaining and rebuilding native fish stocks and sub stocks with hatchery rearing methods. The work of the organization is an inherently more complex production function than traditional fish hatchery operations. This is in part because the project requires a high level of continuing quality control. It is also due in part because the fisheries management takes place over an extended geographical space of the watershed. The pre-design work for this project has been underway since 1987 by an ad hoc planning group composed of representative of the Yakima Indian Nation, the Washington Department of Fisheries and the Washington Department of Wildlife, and private consultants under funding of the Bonneville Power Administration. The project experimental design has been developed by the Experimental Design Work Group. The Bonneville Power Administration is contracting for design and construction of the fish rearing facilities. The research challenge was to design an organization to .implement the adaptive management concept of biological systems management. The management of complex biological systems such as salmon fish runs is character:ized by a high degree of uncertainty. Management for uncertain outcomes requires an organizational process that will induce a continuing learning atmosphere. Over time, most bureaucratic organizations suffer from inertia and are not conducive to a learning environment. Research methods involved the review of literature and related administrative experience, an interview process, a modified Delphi questionnaire, a series of group dynamic exercises, and observation of the work teams during the last six months of the planing process. The results of our research suggest that a new non-profit corporation be formed to implement the program under the direction of the three primary fish management basin agencies. The corporation should have flexibility and the organization will be phased in during the five year planning and construction cycle. A primary result of our research is the conclusion that the team management concept be the dominant organizational unit for both management of field operations and for management of scientific design and evaluation. Close

• 8. [Article] A Review of Urban Water Body Challenges and Approaches: (1) Rehabilitation and Remediation

  We review how urbanization alters aquatic ecosystems, as well as actions that managers can take to remediate urban waters. Urbanization affects streams by fundamentally altering longitudinal and lateral ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: A Review of Urban Water Body Challenges and Approaches: (1) Rehabilitation and Remediation Author: Hughes, Robert M., Dunham, Susie, Maas-Hebner, Kathleen G., Yeakley, J. Alan, Schreck, Carl B., Harte, Michael, Molina, Nancy, Shock, Clinton C., Kaczynski, Victor W., Schaeffer, Jeff Year: 2014 We review how urbanization alters aquatic ecosystems, as well as actions that managers can take to remediate urban waters. Urbanization affects streams by fundamentally altering longitudinal and lateral processes that in turn alter hydrology, habitat, and water chemistry; these effects create physical and chemical stressors that in turn affect the biota. Urban streams often suffer from multiple stressor effects that have collectively been termed an “urban stream syndrome,” in which no single factor dominates degraded conditions. Resource managers have multiple ways of combating the urban stream syndrome. These approaches range from whole-watershed protection to reach-scale habitat rehabilitation, but the prescription must be matched to the scale of the factors that are causing the problem, and results will likely not be immediate because of lengthy recovery times. Although pristine or reference conditions are far from attainable, urban stream rehabilitation is a worthy goal because appropriate actions can provide ecosystem improvements as well as increased ecosystem service benefits for human society. Title: A Review of Urban Water Body Challenges and Approaches: (1) Rehabilitation and Remediation Author: Hughes, Robert M., Dunham, Susie, Maas-Hebner, Kathleen G., Yeakley, J. Alan, Schreck, Carl B., Harte, Michael, Molina, Nancy, Shock, Clinton C., Kaczynski, Victor W., Schaeffer, Jeff Year: 2014 We review how urbanization alters aquatic ecosystems, as well as actions that managers can take to remediate urban waters. Urbanization affects streams by fundamentally altering longitudinal and lateral processes that in turn alter hydrology, habitat, and water chemistry; these effects create physical and chemical stressors that in turn affect the biota. Urban streams often suffer from multiple stressor effects that have collectively been termed an “urban stream syndrome,” in which no single factor dominates degraded conditions. Resource managers have multiple ways of combating the urban stream syndrome. These approaches range from whole-watershed protection to reach-scale habitat rehabilitation, but the prescription must be matched to the scale of the factors that are causing the problem, and results will likely not be immediate because of lengthy recovery times. Although pristine or reference conditions are far from attainable, urban stream rehabilitation is a worthy goal because appropriate actions can provide ecosystem improvements as well as increased ecosystem service benefits for human society. Close

• 9. [Article] The Response of Zooplankton Communities in Montane Lakes of Different Fish Stocking Histories to Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition Simulations

  Freshwater ecosystems are subject to a wide variety of stressors, which can have complex interactions and result in ecological surprises. Non-native fish introductions have drastically reduced the number ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The Response of Zooplankton Communities in Montane Lakes of Different Fish Stocking Histories to Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition Simulations Author: Brittain, Jeffrey Thomas Year: 2015 Freshwater ecosystems are subject to a wide variety of stressors, which can have complex interactions and result in ecological surprises. Non-native fish introductions have drastically reduced the number of naturally fishless lakes and have resulted in cascading food web repercussions in aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Additional anthropogenic influences that result from increases in global airborne emissions also threaten wildlife habitat. Atmospheric nitrogen deposition has been recognized as an anthropogenic contributor to acidification and eutrophication of wilderness ecosystems. Planktonic communities have shown declines in response to predation and shifts in composition as a result of nutrient inputs and acidification, both of which are potential fates of nitrogen deposition. This study identified the response of zooplankton communities from two lakes (fish present vs. absent) in Mount Rainier National Park to manipulations simulating an episodic disturbance event in mesocosms. The experiment used a 2 x 2 factorial design with acid and nitrogen treatments. Treatments resulted in significantly elevated nitrogen and decreased pH conditions from control mesocosms over 42 days, indicating that the treatment effects were achieved. Results indicate that zooplankton communities from lakes with different food web structure respond differently to the singular effects of acid and nitrogen addition. Surprisingly, the interaction of the two stressors was related to increases in community metrics (e.g., abundance, biomass, body size, richness, and Shannon-Weiner diversity) for both lake types. This work can aid management decisions as agencies look to restore more aquatic montane habitats to their historic fishless states, and assess their abilities to recover and afford resistance to atmospheric pollution. Title: The Response of Zooplankton Communities in Montane Lakes of Different Fish Stocking Histories to Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition Simulations Author: Brittain, Jeffrey Thomas Year: 2015 Freshwater ecosystems are subject to a wide variety of stressors, which can have complex interactions and result in ecological surprises. Non-native fish introductions have drastically reduced the number of naturally fishless lakes and have resulted in cascading food web repercussions in aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Additional anthropogenic influences that result from increases in global airborne emissions also threaten wildlife habitat. Atmospheric nitrogen deposition has been recognized as an anthropogenic contributor to acidification and eutrophication of wilderness ecosystems. Planktonic communities have shown declines in response to predation and shifts in composition as a result of nutrient inputs and acidification, both of which are potential fates of nitrogen deposition. This study identified the response of zooplankton communities from two lakes (fish present vs. absent) in Mount Rainier National Park to manipulations simulating an episodic disturbance event in mesocosms. The experiment used a 2 x 2 factorial design with acid and nitrogen treatments. Treatments resulted in significantly elevated nitrogen and decreased pH conditions from control mesocosms over 42 days, indicating that the treatment effects were achieved. Results indicate that zooplankton communities from lakes with different food web structure respond differently to the singular effects of acid and nitrogen addition. Surprisingly, the interaction of the two stressors was related to increases in community metrics (e.g., abundance, biomass, body size, richness, and Shannon-Weiner diversity) for both lake types. This work can aid management decisions as agencies look to restore more aquatic montane habitats to their historic fishless states, and assess their abilities to recover and afford resistance to atmospheric pollution. Close

• 10. [Article] Effects of Beaver Dams on Surface Water Flow During Storm Events in an Urban Landscape

  Urban land-use generally alters the hydrologic cycle, leading to changes in the natural flow regime of local streams. Runoff from impervious surfaces and routing of stormwater to streams causes urban streams ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Effects of Beaver Dams on Surface Water Flow During Storm Events in an Urban Landscape Author: Poor, Erin Year: 2017 Urban land-use generally alters the hydrologic cycle, leading to changes in the natural flow regime of local streams. Runoff from impervious surfaces and routing of stormwater to streams causes urban streams to respond quickly and more intensely to storm events-more so than then would be observed in a less urbanized landscape. The rapid pulse of water that is routed to streams during precipitation events can degrade the physical structure of the channel and alter water quality and habitat availability. To manage these common urban stream issues, agencies have been seeking alternative ways of restoring and enhancing resilience in urban stream networks within the constraints of existing infrastructure. One potential strategy may be to support beaver recolonization of urban streams. This is because beaver dam building activity has been found to attenuate streamflow in areas that have experienced minimal human impact. Currently, however, no studies have been published that examine how beaver dams affect stream flow in altered urban systems. This study seeks to determine if the presence of beaver dams and ponds in urban stream reaches in the Tualatin River basin, Oregon, modifies the stream’s response to storm events. Continuous surface water levels are being collected upstream and downstream of two beaver affected reaches in order to determine how the presence of dams and ponds affect the flow regime, and whether this more closely resembles a less degraded state. Title: Effects of Beaver Dams on Surface Water Flow During Storm Events in an Urban Landscape Author: Poor, Erin Year: 2017 Urban land-use generally alters the hydrologic cycle, leading to changes in the natural flow regime of local streams. Runoff from impervious surfaces and routing of stormwater to streams causes urban streams to respond quickly and more intensely to storm events-more so than then would be observed in a less urbanized landscape. The rapid pulse of water that is routed to streams during precipitation events can degrade the physical structure of the channel and alter water quality and habitat availability. To manage these common urban stream issues, agencies have been seeking alternative ways of restoring and enhancing resilience in urban stream networks within the constraints of existing infrastructure. One potential strategy may be to support beaver recolonization of urban streams. This is because beaver dam building activity has been found to attenuate streamflow in areas that have experienced minimal human impact. Currently, however, no studies have been published that examine how beaver dams affect stream flow in altered urban systems. This study seeks to determine if the presence of beaver dams and ponds in urban stream reaches in the Tualatin River basin, Oregon, modifies the stream’s response to storm events. Continuous surface water levels are being collected upstream and downstream of two beaver affected reaches in order to determine how the presence of dams and ponds affect the flow regime, and whether this more closely resembles a less degraded state. Close