Based upon prior examplse, certainly there are plenty of opportunities to restore stream channels and fish habitats in our STATE !

Add pools and wood to habitats.

2005 cross section before flooding

We most recently completed this project in 2006.

Mount Hope River is located in Northeastern CT. The river is a tributary of the Natchaug River, flowing into Mansfield Hollow Reservoir. Drainage area at site is 12.3 square miles, so we are positioned in the upper 3rd of the watershed which has an area of 37 square miles. Primarily forested AG /forest watershed with minimal development.

Stretch of river was basically one large stretch of monotypic riffle habitat

Add pools and wood to habitats.

Aerial shot of project site. Restoration work began upstream within the forested zone and extended down throughout the pasture.

Gives you an idea as to the bank erosion and channel lateral expansion and migration. Erosion width ranging 6-10 feet.

Basically “NO” streambank in these areas.

You can see lack of riparian vegetation

Cross vanes built in upstream horse-shoe shape Grade control at the center weir location transition into deeper pool Higher velocity waters are moved towards channel centerline, to reduce bank erosion but also help maintain pool depth

This introduction of wood helps to enhance diversity instream habitats

32-36 ft wide based upon stable reference reach Higher flows will be allowed to flow onto bankfull bench and into pasture also reducing shear stress on streambanks

A lot of speckled alder colonized riparian zone since cattle fenced out

Pool : below example cross vane slide shown earlier Crazy like 1.3 square feet of fill in pool, almost abnormal like to see such little change. Pool continues to scour and provide deep water habitat

During drought conditions, can see pool habitats created by grade control structures.

Connecticut DEP Inland Fisheries Division Stream Restoration Efforts in Eastern Connecticut Brian D. Murphy email: brian.murphy@.ct.gov

Numerous Man-Made Alterations in CT Streams Resulting in Habitat Loss/Degradation Stream channel placed in concrete channel Stream channel straightened Called “Channelization”

Streams Buried Underground Within Culverts ex). Bigelow Brook Manchester Bigelow Brook Bigelow Brook

Streams Modified by Dam Construction : Impacts Block upstream fish passage Ponds/Lakes – Impact WQ, e.g. increase water temperature downstream areas

Streambank Erosion Impacts Erosion causes sedimentation of valuable fish habitats.  Sedimentation can reduce population levels of aquatic insects, food source for fish. Erosion can cause the loss of vegetation that can shade a stream and cool water temperatures.  Without shading, sunlight can increase surface water temperatures, negatively affecting survival of coldwater fish such as trout.

Some Habitat Degradation is Not Obvious Creates shallow & wide channels Diminished quantity of fish habitat Watershed Development : Increase impervious surfaces

Definitions Habitat Enhancement : An improvement o f habitat & ecological conditions over existing conditions. Example: Improve availability of cover for adult trout Habitat Restoration: Return of habitat & ecological conditions to a close approximation of its condition prior to disturbance. Example: stabilize eroding streambank/ unstable channel, dam removal Strict restoration difficult to achieve since “prior conditions” are often unknown !

Habitat Quantity & Quality Often Positively Correlated with Fish Density HABITAT FISH DENSITY From a Fisheries Perspective: Why Restore/Enhance Habitat ?

Benefits of Habitat Restoration & Enhancement Improve water quality, e.g. stop erosion, sedimentation Improve stream channel and streambank stability Create “more” and “better” fish habitat More habitat equals more fish - documented by our fish surveys Enhance recreational fishing opportunities

Two Examples of Stream Habitat Restoration Projects Blackledge River, Colchester – completed 2004 Mount Hope River, Ashford – completed 2006

Projects Utilize Natural Stream Channel Design (NCD) Approach Fluvial Geomorphology : Science to understand relationship between channel form and processes in the landscape. (Water and sediment movement) Soil Bioengineering : Use of live and dead plant materials in combination with natural and synthetic materials for stabilization and vegetation reestablishment - “soft armourment”. NCD Approach: We restore channels to withstand a bankfull discharge that occurs on average every 2 years.

Blackledge River Habitat Restoration Project Area Upstream of confluence with Jeremy River within Salmon River Watershed Drainage Area : 39 square miles Project Location

Blackledge River Habitat Restoration Project, Colchester Problem/Need Storm events in 1973 (30 yr.) and 1982 (200 yr.) caused severe bank erosion ~ 440 ft. and sedimentation channel instability and growth of island led to braided (multiple) channels ( wide and shallow) aggradation (build up) of substrates caused gradual loss of pool habitats important for adult size fish

Project Objectives Restore and stabilize over 440 ft. streambank and channel to correct local erosion problems. Decrease downstream sediment loading. Restore instream aquatic resource habitat and riparian vegetation. Demonstrate new technologies and methods for stream channel restoration. Blackledge River Restoration Project

Streambank Erosion Lack of vegetated riparian zone Water/erosion line from high flows Bank height ~ 8-10 ft.

Other problems: - Lack of Pool Habitats - Aggradation of Substrates Shallow water conditions next to eroded streambank Lack of pool habitats & slow bedload transport

Blackledge River Design Plan View J-HOOK Riffle Pool (150 ft.) Fill Cut Engineering & Design: Biohabitats, Inc.

J-Hook Installation J-Hook weir footer(foundation)rocks Top layer of weir ~20 deg 4 % Arm length 100 ft.

Streambank Stabilization Treatment Dig Trench Top rock Footer rock 22-26 ‘ from top of bank Bankfull Bench Bankfull Bench and Boulder Toe

Riffle Construction Tailwater of pool riffle Riffle elevation acts as a hydraulic control to maintain 3 ft. deep pool during low flow periods

Streambank Stabilization Treatment 1. Coir erosion control blanket 2. NE conservation seed mix 3. Dormant livebrush plantings silky dogwood/willow spp.

J-Hook critical component to project success Deflect flow away from bank & towards centerline Turbulent water Function at High flows Function in winter J-hooks are designed to protect downstream streambank length 2-3 times vane arm length

Blackledge River Cross-Section Monitoring Island LB RB Island LB RB 1ft. x 10ft. aggrade Little change 2 ft.x 13 ft. scour Ice jam event 2006-7 3 years post monitoring

Blackledge River Project Evaluation Before Construction 1 Month Post Construction-2004 1 Year Post Construction-2005 2 Years Post Construction-2006

Project Partners Department of Environmental Protection Inland Fisheries Division Wildlife Division, (WHAMM) Water Bureau (Planning/Standards & Inland Water) Cost $120,000 funded by: US EPA 319 non-point program Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) Completion Timeframe 22 days (July-Sept.)

Connecticut DEP, Inland Fisheries Division brian.murphy@ct.gov Brian D. Murphy Restoration of a pasture stretch of the Mount Hope River utilizing a natural channel design approach

Project Location Natchaug River Watershed Drainage Area : 12.3 mi2 (37 mi2) Forested/Agricultural Watershed

Problem/Need Severe streambank erosion ~ 1,000 ft. due past poor agricultural practices, unrestricted cattle access Erosion has caused sedimentation of instream habitats Unstable and overwidened channel – lateral expansion Lack of “vegetated” riparian zone Poor instream fish habitats (lack of cover/pools) Mount Hope River Restoration Project

Project Objectives Restore and stabilize streambank and channel Restore riparian areas with native vegetation Exclude cattle from riparian areas via fencing Restore diversity of instream fish habitats Mount Hope River Restoration Project

Mount Hope River Restoration 12 acres pasture along river Bassett Brook wetlands

Pre – Restoration Conditions Approximate streambank edge prior to instability Pre-Restoration Streambank edge Example of streambank erosion and stream widening along Mount Hope River prior to restoration 6 – 10 ft. > widening

Pre – Restoration Conditions Area along streambank receiving heavy cattle traffic prior to restoration efforts  

Pre- Restoration Conditions Streambank erosion along steeper banks   Open Pasture with no riparian vegetation

Uncontrolled Cattle Access to the Mount Hope River Brian please don’t fence us in!

Project Design Planview Design by NRCS Charles Galgowski Todd Bobowick Grade control structures CrossVanes & J-Hooks Fill & bankfull bench Large woody debris Cattle fencing Cattle xings Riparian plantings

CrossVane Functions Redirect flows to channel centerline Reduce bank erosion Pool Grade control

                                                          Installation of Large Woody Debris/Rootwads Addition of wood components increase diversity of instream habitats

Streambank & Channel Restoration Sequence Preconstruction Overwiden , shallow channel Narrow Channel:32-36 feet wide Line edge with rock & logs Create Bankfull Bench (38-49 ft. width – 2 year storm) Install Erosion Control Blanket Fill & topsoil BKF

Install electric fencing, seed and plant vegetation to restore riparian zone (25 ft. wide each side) Willow, dogwood Spp. & blueberry Streambank & Channel Restoration Sequence

Post Project Evaluation Good vegetation reestablishment within riparian zone Before 1 yr. Post: 2007 3 yr. Post: 2009 4 yr. Post: 2010

Mount Hope River Restoration Pre construction example of overwide and unstable channel conditions Post construction: Narrow channel and creation of bankfull bench

Example: Post Project (6 mo.) Evaluation April 2007: ~ 5 year flood 1,375 cfs Flows Overtop Bankfull Bench & Access Pasture/Floodplain No erosion or instability observed after event

Cross-Section Monitoring : 6 permanent stations X section area diff=1.3 ft2

Annual Cross-Section Monitoring (2006 - 2009) >30 ft2 over 3 years

Post Restoration Sept. 2007 aerial Drought conditions (< 0.2 cfs)

N=3,992

Project Partners Department of Environmental Protection Inland Fisheries Division Wildlife Division, (WHAMM) USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Cost $128,000 funded by: US EPA 319 non-point program Completion Timeframe: 39 days (July-Oct.)

List of Stream Restoration Projects on DEP website : www.ct.gov/dep