Project design and implementation

Watershed management Phase 1 getting organized Phase 2 problem & opportunity identification Phase 3 developing goals, objectives, & restoration alternatives** Phase 4 implementing**, monitoring, evaluating, & adapting FISRWG, 1998

Restoration alternative selection & design Phase 3 developing goals, objectives, & restoration alternatives Define the desired future condition for everyone on the team Identify scale considerations Identify restoration constraints and issues Define goals and objectives Restoration alternative selection & design Point of this step is to develop & analyze alternatives and come to a consensus on a game plan Define the desired future condition for EVERYONE on the team Identify scale considerations Landscape scale regional economic & natural resource management considerations; land use considerations; biodiversity considerations Stream corridor scale may take into consideration both the stream and upland areas; guidelines focus on ecological function & structure, but riparian buffers, for example, are as important for bank erosion as they are as habitat Reach scale plans must take into consideration the larger scales and consider up- and downstream impacts, for example 3. Identify restoration constraints and issues a. Consider technical constraints (e.g., lack of data, restoration technologies); QA/QC; nontechnical constraints (e.g., political, legal, economic, social, cultural) 4. Define goals and objectives a. Goals establish a desired future condition that reflects social, political, and economic values b. Objectives give direction to the general approach, design, and implementation of the restoration effort 5. Alternative selection & design a. managing causes & treating symptoms 6. Landscape/Watershed vs. Corridor/Reach a. connectivity and scale issues 7. Supporting analyses for selecting restoration alternatives a. cost-effectiveness and incremental cost analysis must consider: funds available, return on funds invested, time & other non-financial resources, ability to get action done b. evaluation of benefits c. risk assessment d. environmental impact analysis FISRWG, 1998

Restoration alternative selection & design Managing causes and treating symptoms Using all the previous information, what can be done?

Restoration alternative selection & design Managing causes and treating symptoms These questions must be addressed: What have been the implications of past disturbances and/or management activities in the stream corridor? What are the realistic opportunities for eliminating, modifying, mitigating, or managing these activities? What would be the response of impaired conditions in the corridor if these activities could be eliminated, modified, mitigated, or managed? Critical to determining whether a passive, nonstructural alternative is appropriate or whether a more active restoration alternative is needed FISRWG, 1998

Restoration alternative selection & design Managing causes and treating symptoms Three scenarios: The cause can be eliminated The cause cannot be eliminated, but it can be managed, modified, mitigated What are those options? How will the options impact the system? It’s not possible to manage the cause, so how can symptoms be managed mitigated? 1. If the causes of the impairment can realistically be eliminated, then complete ecosystem restoration to a natural or unaltered condition might be feasible and the objectives will be clear. 2. If the causes of the impairment cannot realistically be eliminated, then you must identify to available options to manage either the causes or symptoms of altered conditions AND the effect, if any, of those management options might have on the subject conditions 3. If it’s not possible to manage the causes of the impaired conditions, then mitigating the impacts of the disturbances (i.e., the symptoms) is an alternative method of implementing sustainable stream corridor restoration FISRWG, 1998

Restoration alternative selection & design Managing causes and treating symptoms Consider this at the watershed scale—connectivity Reach to stream scale Stream to corridor scale Corridor to watershed scale Watershed to region scale

Restoration alternative selection & design Supporting analyses for selecting restoration alternatives Cost-effectiveness analysis must consider: Funds available, return on funds invested, time & other non-financial resources, ability to get action done Risk assessment addresses uncertainty What are the sources of uncertainty in stream restoration? Environmental impact analysis Considers potential sort- and long-term direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts return on funds invested back to ethics and values—this is hard to measure/quantify! FISRWG, 1998

Restoration alternative selection & design Project design—how do you do it? In-stream approaches analogy method; hydraulic geometry; analytical method; empirical relationships for meander wavelengths, width., etc.; model bank stability using BSTEM (Bank-Stability and Toe-Erosion Model); Stability Threshold Analysis (STA) Stream corridor or watershed approaches land use/zoning impacts on development; wetland preservation/construction; BMPs in agricultural land use areas (conservation buffers, fencing, crop nutrient management, conservation tillage; grazing management); stormwater BMPs (detention basins, pervious concrete, green infrastructure)

Restoration alternative selection & design Project design Green infrastructure—Buffalo Niagara RIVERKEEPER addresses sewer overflow with Green Infrastructure Solutions Plan Green Infrastructure Sewer Solutions Plan prepared by Buffalo Niagara RIVERKEEPER outlines how this solution would eliminate stormwater flow into the combined sewer system, thereby effectively preventing contaminated urban stormwater runoff from flowing directly into Scajaquada Creek while also reducing Buffalo Sewer Authority project costs. Moreover, by including green infrastructure measures, the project would also provide the benefit of adding desirable complete street components that include bike and pedestrian enhancements, neighborhood beautification and traffic calming benefits. http://bnriverkeeper.org/programs/sewers/

Implementing: installing restoration measures Phase 4 implementing, monitoring, evaluating, & adapting Installing restoration measures Monitoring Evaluation Adaptive management FISRWG, 1998

Implementing: installing restoration measures Phase 4 implementing, monitoring, evaluating, & adapting Installing restoration measures Securing funding—managing $$ from multiple sources Identifying tools to facilitate implementation Getting technical assistance, using tax advantages, cost-shares to individuals Dividing implementation responsibilities—divide and conquer Managing technical teams, government agencies, contractors, volunteers Establish The Advisory Board usually manages this 1. Securing funding 2. Identifying tools to facilitate implementation a. e.g., technical assistance, tax advantages, cost-sharing, cross-compliance among existing programs 3. Dividing implementation responsibilities—divide and conquer! Responsibilities divided among participants, so the players (people and/or institutions/groups) must be identified and responsibilities must be assigned; this is usually done by the advisory board 4. Installing restoration measures Determining the schedule—timing can be crucial Obtaining necessary permits—state and federal permits needed depending on type and location (e.g., in-channel, riparian zone, upland areas)of work e.g., section 404 of the clean water act (USACE permits needed), endangered species act (USFWS permits needed) Holding preinstallation conferences—on-site meeting with project manger/supervisor, crew foreman, contractors Involving property owners—on-sire owner and neighbors that may be impacted Securing site access—various types of easements Locating existing utilities Confirming sources & ensuring material standards—e.g., fill, rock, vegetation Successful implementation characteristics central responsibility in one person (PM), thorough understanding of planning & materials, familiarity with the reach, knowledge of laws & regulations, understanding of environmental control plans, communication among all parties involved in the action 5. Monitoring 6. Evaluation 7. Adaptive management Player (person and/or group) responsibility assigned FISRWG, 1998

Implementing: installing restoration measures Phase 4 implementing, monitoring, evaluating, & adapting Installing restoration Determining the schedule Obtaining necessary permits State and/or federal permits may be needed depending on type and location (e.g., in-channel, riparian zone, upland areas) of work e.g., section 404 of the clean water act (USACE permits needed), endangered species act (USFWS permits needed) measures 1. Securing funding 2. Identifying tools to facilitate implementation a. e.g., technical assistance, tax advantages, cost-sharing, cross-compliance among existing programs 3. Dividing implementation responsibilities—divide and conquer! Responsibilities divided among participants, so the players (people and/or institutions/groups) must be identified and responsibilities must be assigned; this is usually done by the advisory board 4. Installing restoration measures Determining the schedule—timing can be crucial Obtaining necessary permits—state and federal permits needed depending on type and location (e.g., in-channel, riparian zone, upland areas)of work e.g., section 404 of the clean water act (USACE permits needed), endangered species act (USFWS permits needed) Holding preinstallation conferences—on-site meeting with project manger/supervisor, crew foreman, contractors Involving property owners—on-site owner and neighbors that may be impacted Securing site access—various types of easements Locating existing utilities Confirming sources & ensuring material standards—e.g., fill, rock, vegetation Successful implementation characteristics central responsibility in one person (PM), thorough understanding of planning & materials, familiarity with the reach, knowledge of laws & regulations, understanding of environmental control plans, communication among all parties involved in the action 5. Monitoring 6. Evaluation 7. Adaptive management Montana example FISRWG, 1998

Implementing: installing restoration measures Phase 4 implementing, monitoring, evaluating, & adapting Installing restoration measures Holding preinstallation conferences—on-site meeting with project manger/supervisor, crew foreman, contractors Involving property owners—on-site owner and neighbors that may be impacted 1. Securing funding 2. Identifying tools to facilitate implementation a. e.g., technical assistance, tax advantages, cost-sharing, cross-compliance among existing programs 3. Dividing implementation responsibilities—divide and conquer! Responsibilities divided among participants, so the players (people and/or institutions/groups) must be identified and responsibilities must be assigned; this is usually done by the advisory board 4. Installing restoration measures Determining the schedule—timing can be crucial Obtaining necessary permits—state and federal permits needed depending on type and location (e.g., in-channel, riparian zone, upland areas)of work e.g., section 404 of the clean water act (USACE permits needed), endangered species act (USFWS permits needed) Holding preinstallation conferences—on-site meeting with project manger/supervisor, crew foreman, contractors Involving property owners—on-site owner and neighbors that may be impacted Securing site access—various types of easements Locating existing utilities Confirming sources & ensuring material standards—e.g., fill, rock, vegetation Successful implementation characteristics central responsibility in one person (PM), thorough understanding of planning & materials, familiarity with the reach, knowledge of laws & regulations, understanding of environmental control plans, communication among all parties involved in the action 5. Monitoring 6. Evaluation 7. Adaptive management FISRWG, 1998

Implementing: installing restoration measures Phase 4 implementing, monitoring, evaluating, & adapting Installing restoration measures Securing site access—various easements are available 1. Securing funding 2. Identifying tools to facilitate implementation a. e.g., technical assistance, tax advantages, cost-sharing, cross-compliance among existing programs 3. Dividing implementation responsibilities—divide and conquer! Responsibilities divided among participants, so the players (people and/or institutions/groups) must be identified and responsibilities must be assigned; this is usually done by the advisory board 4. Installing restoration measures Determining the schedule—timing can be crucial Obtaining necessary permits—state and federal permits needed depending on type and location (e.g., in-channel, riparian zone, upland areas)of work e.g., section 404 of the clean water act (USACE permits needed), endangered species act (USFWS permits needed) Holding preinstallation conferences—on-site meeting with project manger/supervisor, crew foreman, contractors Involving property owners—on-site owner and neighbors that may be impacted Securing site access—various types of easements Locating existing utilities Confirming sources & ensuring material standards—e.g., fill, rock, vegetation Successful implementation characteristics central responsibility in one person (PM), thorough understanding of planning & materials, familiarity with the reach, knowledge of laws & regulations, understanding of environmental control plans, communication among all parties involved in the action 5. Monitoring 6. Evaluation 7. Adaptive management FISRWG, 1998

Implementing: installing restoration measures Phase 4 implementing, monitoring, evaluating, & adapting Installing restoration measures Locating existing utilities Confirming sources & ensuring material standards 1. Securing funding 2. Identifying tools to facilitate implementation a. e.g., technical assistance, tax advantages, cost-sharing, cross-compliance among existing programs 3. Dividing implementation responsibilities—divide and conquer! Responsibilities divided among participants, so the players (people and/or institutions/groups) must be identified and responsibilities must be assigned; this is usually done by the advisory board 4. Installing restoration measures Determining the schedule—timing can be crucial Obtaining necessary permits—state and federal permits needed depending on type and location (e.g., in-channel, riparian zone, upland areas)of work e.g., section 404 of the clean water act (USACE permits needed), endangered species act (USFWS permits needed) Holding preinstallation conferences—on-site meeting with project manger/supervisor, crew foreman, contractors Involving property owners—on-site owner and neighbors that may be impacted Securing site access—various types of easements Locating existing utilities Confirming sources & ensuring material standards—e.g., fill, rock, vegetation Successful implementation characteristics central responsibility in one person (PM), thorough understanding of planning & materials, familiarity with the reach, knowledge of laws & regulations, understanding of environmental control plans, communication among all parties involved in the action 5. Monitoring 6. Evaluation 7. Adaptive management FISRWG, 1998

Implementing: installing restoration measures Phase 4 implementing, monitoring, evaluating, & adapting A group effort coordinated by one person, a project manager with these skills: Leadership Scheduling Budgeting Technical skills Communicating Negotiating Customer relations Understanding environmental control plans minimizing environmental degradation FISRWG, 1998