Clearwater Lake LWD Placements

Objectives

There are several objectives of the Marjorie Creek Restoration Project and they are outlined below.

To provide stream restoration training through on-ground works to select local individuals.

FRBC Region/ MELP Region/ MoF Region

Cariboo

Author

Michael A. Parker with excerpts from report by Peter Nicklin, Bioterra Consulting

Proponent

Kleena Kleene Resource Association

Watershed

Clearwater Lake / Marjorie Creek

Location

The project area is located within the Chilcotin Forest District of the Cariboo Region, some 230 km West of the City of Williams Lake.

Introduction

With an active community group as proponent, all levels of Fish Habitat, Riparian, and Upslope Assessments have been completed for this watershed. MoF is working with the proponent to complete road deactivation and upslope works.

Three key fish habitat issues guided restoration options in the Clearwater Lake watershed.

1. Marjorie Creek is the major source of recruitment for rainbow trout in the watershed (specifically the stream below the bridge crossing at the Big Stick FSR).
2. The carrying capacity of Marjorie Creek (presently limited to the lower four reaches, approximately 1.9 kilometers) is a major factor in determining the status of the rainbow trout population in the Clearwater Lake watershed
3. Fish habitat impacts to Marjorie Creek are attributed to stream debris clearance, very low summer flows, sedimentation of spawning gravel and low quantity of spawning gravel. The removal of LWD in the Marjorie Creek system has resulted in the degradation and loss of spawning habitat. The loss of spawner holding pools and cover has probably further reduced the suitability of a number of historic spawning sites. Removal of LWD has increased the habitat favored by longnose suckers. The suckers are competing with the rainbow trout for spawning sites in the spring high flows. Increasing the complexity of Marjorie Creek will enable the rainbow trout to compete more successfully against the suckers for spawning habitat.

Assessments and Prescriptions

The Kleena Kleene Resource Association (KKRA), through Forest Renewal B.C. and in coordination with the Ministry of Environment (Watershed Restoration Program) and Ministry of Forests, Cariboo Region have completed an Overview and Level 1 Fish Habitat Assessment, Sediment Source Survey, Interior Watershed Assessment, Level 2 Fish Habitat Assessment and Prescriptions Procedure (FHAP), Riparian Assessment and an Integrated Watershed Restoration Plan on the Clearwater Lake watershed.

The target species for restoration in the Clearwater Lake watershed is rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The Marjorie Creek system (downstream of the Big Stick FSR bridge) is the primary source of recruitment for rainbow trout (spawning and rearing) to Clearwater Lake and is thus the focus of in-stream restoration. Lack of LWD in reaches DA1 and DA2 was determined by the Level 2 FHAP to be limiting rainbow trout habitat.

Rehabilitation Work

Seven types of LWD structures (21 in total) were placed over a 1.4km length of stream. The seven types of structures included: Single log deflector, Double log deflector, bar stabilization with rootwad LWD, Boulder/cobble weir, Deflector/digger log, Full spanning digger log and Angled LWD.

All work was completed by a hand crew of three people, with hand tools and a chainsaw. The breakdown of each structure type is as follows: 6 angled/anchored LWD structures; 2 deflector/digger log structures; 1 downstream boulder/cobble weir; 6 full spanning digger logs; 2 single log deflectors; 6 buried LWD rootwad structures; and 1 double log/boulder deflector. Formation of local scour pools and increased cover via log deflectors, digger logs, angled/anchored LWD, bar stabilization with rootwad LWD and rock weir placements should increase the carrying capacity of the stream by increasing the rainbow trout rearing and spawning habitat through increased stream complexity. Formation of scour pools will help retain more water during periods of low flow and potentially increase fry/juvenile survival.

Twelve person days of labour were created by the Marjorie Creek rehabilitation project.

Cost Summary

The instream structures were completed in 24 hours. Man hours of employment created by this project are calculated by the following breakdown. 3 people were used for 24 hours. An additional 2 people were used for the first 12 hours of labour. 12 man days (based on 8 hour days) of labour were created by this project. Total labour costs for the 24 hours of construction were $2,952.00. Equipment rental and supplies costs were $800.00. The total cost of the installation of the instream structures is $3,752.00. The cost of each structure is the total cost of labour, equipment rental and supplies is $3,752/21 structures. Each structure has an estimated average cost of $178.67.

Restoration Results

Twelve pieces of LWD were added to Reach DA2, thus exceeding the total pieces of wood recommended for addition in the Level 2 FHAP. The expected increase in rainbow trout population (using established biostandards) is 2.7 fold for total rainbow trout numbers and a 1.3 fold increase for catchable sized trout (>= 15 cm) per unit length of mainstem.

Proposed Work

No further works are proposed for the Clearwater Lake Watershed.

For Further Information contact:

Michael A. Parker Ministry of Environment and Parks 400-640 Borland St. Williams Lake, BC V2G 4T1 Tel.(250)398-4696 Fax.(250)398-4214

Ken Jansen Kleena Kleene Resource Association General Delivery Kleena Kleene, BC V0L 1M0 Tel. (250) 476-1195

Site 8 on Marjorie Creek at extreme low flows during August 1998 installation and approaching bank full conditions on November 12, 1998.