SALT LAKE CITY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES Red Butte Creek Riparian Corridor Study Public Workshop 1 October 28, 2008 Facilitated by BIO-WEST, Inc Facilitated by BIO-WEST, Inc.

Workshop Presentation Outline Purpose and goals of the study Riparian corridor definitions and functions Red Butte Creek facts Public outreach and input Baseline condition assessments Project timeline and milestones

Why is SLC Conducting This Study? Why is SLC Conducting This Study? To assess current conditions To determine desired future conditions To identify opportunities for restoration and remediation of Red Butte Creek

Why is SLC Conducting This Study? Why is SLC Conducting This Study? To use the information, data, and maps developed during the study to inform planning, permitting, and administrative processes of the Riparian Corridor Overlay District Ordinance (RCO).

What Will the Riparian Corridor Study Management Plan Include? Statement(s) of desired future conditions Identification of restoration and remediation projects Cost analysis and ranking of projects Identification of project funding mechanisms Presentation of best management practices Inventory of GIS-based information Continuation of public outreach

Why Are Riparian Corridors Important? Why Are Riparian Corridors Important? They provide significant habitat –60% of vertebrate species in the arid Southwest rely on riparian areas ( Ohmart and Anderson 1982 ) They serve as our “green infrastructure” They are rare –Occupy very small portion of land area –In Salt Lake City, less than 1.2% (includes Jordan River plus four creeks)

Red Butte Creek – A Limited Resource Open channel length in city ~3.6 miles Lower 3.4 miles in culvert pipe

Red Butte Creek – Historic Importance Source of fresh water –City’s streams developed for water supply soon after settlement –Fort Douglas (est. 1862) relied on Red Butte Creek for irrigation and drinking water –Court battles between U.S. Army and Salt Lake City over this limited resource

Riparian Area Definition Zone of influence between aquatic and upland areas Sometimes defined as including channel, floodplain, and transition zone (Illustration by G. Zaimes; based on BLM 1991).

Riparian Corridor – Legal Definition City’s Riparian Corridor Overlay Zone Ordinance (RCO) applies to the area within 100 feet of the annual high water line (AHWL) of above-ground streams. “Stream corridor” definition: the stream plus the 100-foot riparian corridor on each side. Our study involves assessing these stream corridors.

Riparian Corridor Functions: Recreation and aesthetics Red Butte Garden

Riparian Corridor Functions: Open space and public lands access Miller Park

Riparian Corridor Functions: Shading and water temperature control Miller Park

Riparian Corridor Functions: Floodplain storage and flood-damage reduction University of Utah

Riparian Corridor Functions: Wildlife and aquatic habitat VA/ Sunnyside

Riparian Corridor Functions: Wildlife travel corridors/connectivity Red Butte Garden

Riparian Corridor Functions: Provision of organic matter to stream ecosystem –habitat complexity –nutrient cycling

Riparian Corridor Functions: Stream bank stability and safety Parleys Ck – Sugarhouse Pk

Riparian Corridor Functions: Pollution and nutrient filtration and sediment trapping

Riparian Corridor Functions: Storm water and irrigation water conveyance

Effects of Urbanization Vegetated areas have been converted to impervious pavement, rooftops, etc. Rain water that used to infiltrate now runs off illustrations from "Stream Corridor Restoration: Principles, Processes, and Practices, 10/98, by the Federal Interagency Stream Restoration Working Group

Effects of Urbanization Storm runoff flows have higher peaks Peaks occur more rapidly “Flashier” hydrology illustration from "Stream Corridor Restoration: Principles, Processes, and Practices, 10/98, by the Federal Interagency Stream Restoration Working Group

Effects of Urbanization RainRunoffStorm DrainsCreeks Red Butte Creek is an essential part of the city’s storm water conveyance system.

Red Butte Creek - Facts Smallest of four Salt Lake City creeks –average flow 3.2 cfs –drainage area 11 sq. mi. Water quality meets Utah State standards Red Butte Reservoir (above Red Butte Garden) contains a refuge population of endangered June sucker Upper watershed relatively pristine Upper watershed managed by U.S. Forest Service as the Red Butte Research Natural Area No fish in Red Butte Creek below Reservoir (?) reference: Salt Lake County Water Quality Stewardship Plan 2008

Red Butte Creek

What Does a Riparian Corridor Study Involve? BIO-WEST Planning & Public Outreach public workshops (four) subcommittee/stakeholder meetings (quarterly) web site comment form Baseline Condition Assessment vegetation stream condition Historical and Current Trend Assessment Salt Lake City Public Utilities Management Plan / Desired Future Conditions

How Will Community Involvement Affect the Study? Mayor Becker’s goal: “Our goal is that this study will use a collaborative approach to information exchange, joint information gathering, consultation, and consensus in a way that will promote legitimacy and transparency, encourage creative problem-solving, and support a timely implementation.”

Purposes and Goals of the Public Outreach Process Elicit community and stakeholder participation. Identify public values and concerns. Communicate results of the study for public awareness, education, and support.

Public Outreach Activities: Public workshops (series of four) Stakeholder and interagency meetings (quarterly) Web-based information exchange ( Draft study comments and responses Final study adoption meetings

Public Outreach Workshops Overview: Workshop 1: Visioning and Issue Identification Workshop 2: Baseline Stream and Riparian Conditions Workshop 3: Proposed Improvement Project Costs and Ranking Workshop 4: Draft Document Presentation

Baseline Condition Assessment Compile/summarize existing available information: –water quality –wetlands –stream stability (county field assessments) –hydrology –land use/watershed condition –habitat 2008 Salt Lake County Water Quality Stewardship Plan (WaQSP)

Baseline Condition Assessment Field assessments – low flow and high flow: –survey cross sections –measure size of stream bed material –assess condition of culverts –note problem areas (severe bank erosion, eroding access trails, etc.) –note areas and types of bank hardening –general habitat/ stability

Baseline Condition Assessment Historical and Current Trend Assessment: –are channels actively widening? –are the banks moving? –are channels actively incising? (drop in stream bed elevation) We need your help! –old photographs –changes you’ve observed on Red Butte Creek

Baseline Condition Assessment Field assessments – vegetation: –map riparian vegetation communities –canopy, understory (shrub), ground cover –percent cover, species –note invasive species (Russian olive, tamarisk, Siberian elm, etc.)

Timeline and Milestones Fall 2008Winter 2009 Spring 2009 Summer 2009 Field Evaluation Public Workshop 1 Public Workshop 2 Public Workshop 3 Public Workshop 4 Historical Trend Assessment High Flow Field Evaluation Identify Improvement Projects Draft and Final Mgt. Plans

Riparian Corridor Concerns: Trespass “corridors,” signage Flooding Bank erosion/property loss Debris blockages/damage to infrastructure General safety concerns

YOUR INPUT IS IMPORTANT! Identify issues and concerns that are important to you. What riparian functions are the highest priority to you? What changes have you observed on the creek? Suggest goals, objectives, and actions that should be implemented. Ask project staff questions.

Ways to Comment and Participate Workshop Response Form SLC DPU Website ( Access Permission Form Contact SLC DPU: Florence Reynolds

Limited Access Permission We need your help! Fill out a limited access permission form. BIO-WEST personnel will contact you. Your help enables us to more thoroughly assess the riparian corridors.

THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING! BIO-WEST Contacts: Melissa Stamp Christopher Sands