WUQWATR Wascana Riparian Health Assessment Project

WUQWATR Wascana Riparian Health Assessment ProjectPhase 3 interim report August 2014

11Wascana Riparian Health Assessment 2014Local non-profit source water protection agencyImplementing Getting to the Source, with 82 recommendationsCovers two watershed area, the Wascana and the Upper QuAppelleAgriculture programming, invasive weed management and researchMore info at www.wuqwatr.ca2Who is WUQWATR?

3WUQWATR WatershedsLack of Riparian Health Assessment data in Wascana Watershed identified in 2008Funding received for project design from Saskatchewan Watershed Authority in 2009/10Field work was delayed by flood conditions in 2011

4Wascana Riparian Health AssessmentFirst field assessments in summer 2012 within City of Regina boundaries

Further design and field assessments took place in 2013 on Creek upstream of Regina

Third phase completed this summer downstream of Regina to the QuAppelle, and on portion of Cottonwood Creek5Wascana Riparian Health Assessment6Phase 3 study area

Smallest Saskatchewan watershed area, with highest population densityHighly modified environment. Major urban impact, and intensive croppingSaskatchewan State of the Watershed Report condition ranking is ImpactedSaskatchewan State of the Watershed Report stressor ranks High IntensityIssues of flooding, invasives, nutrient loading, high streamflow downstream of Regina.

7Why Wascana Creek?

8Why Wascana Creek?

9What is the riparian area?Riparian Health Assessment uses observational data to measure indicators of riparian healthSome indicators involve identification of plant species composition and plant cover, and condition of plant lifeOther indicators classify the physical condition of the bank such as structural composition and integrity 10Why Riparian Health Assessment ?Allows for a better understanding of the condition of key ecological functions on the landscape Data collected can be used as a baseline to monitor condition over timeResults can compare different management zones along a waterwayResults can inform management decisions made by landowners and managersCan be used to identify project sites

11Why Riparian Health Assessment ?Trap sedimentBuild and maintain streambanksStore flood water and energyRecharge of aquifersFilter and buffer waterReduce and dissipate stream energyMaintain biodiversityCreate primary productivity12Key Ecological Functions of Riparian AreasBalances erosion with bank restoration reduces effects of erosion by adding bank elsewhereIncreases stability and resilienceMaintains or restores the profile of the channel and extends the width of riparian area through higher water table

13Measures of Riparian Function-Streambank Protection and DevelopmentUtilizes two categories Lotic for rivers and streams, lentic for lakes, sloughs, wetlandsUtilizes set questions 12 for lotic system, 9 for lentic systemUtilizes visual observation and assigns point scores based on dataOverall Health score of 80% or greater rates healthyOverall Health score of 60%-79% rates healthy with problemsOverall Health score of less than 60% rates unhealthy14Riparian Health Assessment -MethodScores 80 or higher

All riparian functions are being performed

High level of riparian condition

Demonstrates resiliency and stability15Health Assessment Ratings Healthy16Healthy Riparian Score

Scores range from 60-79

Many riparian functions are being performed, but some clear signs of stress are apparent

The reach area many not be as capable of rebounding from floods and human activity

17Health Assessment Ratings- Healthy with Problems18Healthy with Problems

Scores 0 -59

Most riparian functions are severely impaired or have been lost

Reach has lost most of its resiliency, stability is compromised 19Health Assessment Ratings- Unhealthy20Unhealthy score

Preferred species have deep binding root massMost preferred species are native plantsGood balance of trees Willow, Manitoba Maple, Elm, Green Ash, HawthornShrubs Chokecherry, Saskatoon, DogwoodForbs and grasses - Cattails, rushes, reed grass, native grasses

21Vegetative Cover preferred speciesInvasive species out-compete preferred speciesOften are exotic plants that lack local controlsInvasive plants impair riparian functionBrome grass is pervasive throughout watershed, replaces preferred grassesDisturbance plants grow where preferred species have disappearedSow thistle, burdock, dandelion22Vegetative cover invasive and disturbance species

23Top 4 invasive plants species

24Top 4 invasive plant species smooth brome

25Top 4 invasive plant species scentless chamomile26Top 4 invasive species Absinthe

27Health rating Wascana Creek DownstreamAverage coverage score was 3 out of 6, which indicates significant areas of bare ground due to water

Lots of areas where flooding had washed out large areas, especially on outside meanders

Bare ground was more common further downstream

28Results- Vegetative cover29Vegetative Cover

Average score for Wascana Creek was .04 out of 6

Prevalence of smooth brome

Also widespread scentless chamomile, thistle,Absinth and locations with leafy spurge30Invasive speciesOverall average score on trees and shrubs is 8.8 out of 12

Trees are present and regenerating themselves

Presence of beaver browsing lowers score

Where are the beaver dams?31Presence of preferred trees and shrubsAverage Wascana score of 2 out of 6

Indicates that overall only 35%-65% of the streambank is anchored with deep, binding root mass

32Deep rooted vegetationAverage scores are 4.5 out of 6 for human caused bare ground

Average score of 4.8 for human alteration

These are good indications about local management33Human caused bare ground and alteration by human activityAverage Wascana score is .7 out of 6

This indicates that at least 30% of the site reach shows active lateral cutting from stream flow34Active lateral cutting35Lateral cutting of banks

Average Wascana score was 2.1 out of 9

This means that the stream cannot access its flood plain

This continues the cycle of incisement and slumping, until bank stability is achieved by erosion36Access to flood plain37Access to flood plain

38Cottonwood Creek resultsPhysical structure of streambank has been clearly compromised by high peak flows, and intense rainfall events over the yearProblems with high flows are compounded by 60 meter drop in elevationHighly erodible glacial till soils further downstreamClay, loam, gravel, sand

39Interpretation of results physical structure40Wascana Creek historical hydrograph

41Wascana Creek hydrograph 2014 QuAppelle

422011 hydrograph Wascana Creek at QuAppelle

43Wascana Creek water level -2014 April 1-Aug

44Seven Bridges Road RM#189

45WWTP - outletScores overall lowered due to invasive plant speciesSome species like smooth brome are too pervasive to be controlledExpansion of other species like leafy spurge can be controlledEvidence of flood damage leading to spread of invasive and disturbance plants46Interpretation of results Invasive speciesFlow from WWTP has altered Creek hydrograph to flow year round

Impacts from recent high flows are pronounced

Potential impacts from stormwater flows from hard surface in Regina. High peak runoff events downstream

47Phase 3 Downstream of ReginaConstant flows are likely impacting establishment of vegetation, increasing erosive force on gravelly glacial soilsRecent major slumping at sites like Sherwood Forest and Deer ValleySeven Bridges Road in RM #189 has serious erosion issuesCottonwood Creek is healthy but now the receiving waterbody for the GTH stormwater system48Phase 3 downstream of Regina

49

Total results for 3 phases 150 sites

Healthiest sites are riparian park areas in Regina

Much engineering alteration in City and upstream, which may speed up water

Creek serves as natural pathway for invasives

Improvement will require cooperation and creativity50Overall resultsSome agricultural impacts, such as overspray with herbicideNo notable siltation from croppingNo notable impacts from livestock overallNaturalization of parks and stormwater channels helps manage city runoffNeed more information about where flows are coming from in the watershed

51Overall results

52Questions?