Kleena Kleene, B.C.

V0L 1M0

201-197 Second Ave North

Williams Lake, B.C. V2G 1Z5

Ph: (250) 392-7887

Fax: (250) 392-5887

Email: bioterra@wlake.com

Kleena Kleene Resources Association (KKRA) of Kleena Kleene, B.C. requested proposals in the spring of 1997 to conduct Watershed Restoration projects within the Clearwater Lake watershed. The projects included a Level 2 Fish Habitat Assessment (FHAP), Watershed and Site Level Riparian Assessment (RAP), Access Management Map (AMM), and an Integrated Watershed Restoration Plan (IWRP). BioTerra Consulting (Inland Timber Management Ltd.) of Williams Lake, B.C. was contracted to the project, and initiated work in the spring of 1997.

This report summarizes the results of the Watershed and Site Level Riparian Assessment. The results of the other studies are found in separate reports.

This project was initiated by the KKRA, with the assistance of the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks (Cariboo Region), to assess the current state of riparian function. This information will be used where possible to develop and implement effective, integrated, cost efficient projects at the watershed scale to rehabilitate and/or restore riparian areas that have been adversely impacted by past forest development.

The Clearwater Lake watershed, totaling 7,300 hectares, generally follows the boundary of Bucket #353 within the Kleena Kleene Integrated Resource Management Zone (CCLUP). Elevations in the watershed range from 700 to 1600 meters. The watershed lies within the Fraser Plateau eco-region on the transition between the Chilcotin Plateau and Western Chilcotin Ranges eco-sections. The Fraser Plateau is characterized by flat to gently rolling topography with large areas of undissected upland at elevations of 1200 to 1500 meters. A portion of the watershed lies within this upland. Surficial material is primarily composed of glacial drift while the bedrock geology is dominated by flat or gently dipping late Miocene or Pliocene olivine basalt flows (Holland, 1976).

The upper portion of the watershed consists of first and second order streams with seasonal flow (ephemeral). There are two main stream systems draining into Marjorie Creek (third order), which in turn drains into Clearwater Lake. A third drainage to the west of Clearwater Lake drains a series of small lakes (3) into the west end of the lake. Upstream of Clearwater Lake, an irrigation ditch historically diverted water from Marjorie Creek to an agricultural lot.

Clearwater Lake, with depths less than 10 meters, is considered a shallow impoundment lake. The lake is drained to the east by Marjorie Creek (also known as Unnamed Creek) into McClinchy River.

The watershed is located within the sub-boreal pine spruce, very dry-cold (SBPSxc) biogeoclimatic sub-zone. B.C. Ministry of Forests (1989) describes the SBPSxc as dominated by lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) and to a lesser extent at higher elevations by white spruce (Picea glauca).

Associations consisting of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) and black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) can also be found. Annual precipitation is less than 400 mm (very dry) with a mean annual temperature of less than 2 degrees Celsius (cold). These temperature and precipitation values generally result in a short growing season and thus a forest productivity of low to poor.

Access to the study area is via Highway 20 west of Williams Lake. The eastern portion of the watershed is near the turn-off to Clearwater Lake Lodge, approximately 290 km west of Williams Lake.

This component of the Riparian Assessment Procedure assesses stream riparian areas on a watershed basis. The results are used to identify areas of concern, and to identify and prioritize sites for subsequent field visitation.

The methodology used was as outlined in Watershed Restoration Technical Circular No. 6 -

Draft 3A (WRTC #6) (Oikos and Johnson, 1996). Photo interpretation and classification of all stream reaches identified in the fish habitat assessment was conducted using 1:15,000 scale color photography (1994). Riparian segments within each reach were identified based on uniform vegetation composition, age and structural stage. All photo interpreted attributes were recorded in a spreadsheet by riparian segment. All riparian segments were mapped within the bounds of the fisheries reaches.

Variations in the methodology from WRTC #6 were as follows:

In addition to these variations in methodology, please refer to Appendix 1 for a detailed list of the technical specifications used to further define the aerial photo intepretation task.

The database of photo interpretation results are presented in Appendix 2. A 1:20,000 scale map indicating fish and riparian breaks is presented as Appendix 3. The riparian areas of those streams assessed are discussed in general below. In this discussion, tree species include lodgepole pine, spruce, trembling aspen, and minor amounts of Douglas fir. Herbaceous and shrub species generally include fireweed, kinnikinnick, and grasses.

Stream "A" connects Clearwater Lake with McClinchy Creek. The riparian areas of these segments are comprised mainly of naturally occurring shrub vegetation. The remainder of the segments are mature coniferous or young deciduous forest. A road is present within riparian segment A4-1. This stream was not identified as fish-bearing.

Stream "AA" enters stream "A" at the boundary of reaches A5 and A6, and is comprised of one riparian segment. This segment is entirely shrub.

Stream "B" flows into stream "A" at the break between reaches A1 and A2. "B" and its tributary "BA" are predominantly mature and young coniferous dominated forests, with shrubby vegetation within the first riparian segment of stream "B". These streams were not identified as fish-bearing.

A small stream ("C") enters the southwest end of Clearwater Lake. Comprised of two fisheries reaches, the riparian vegetation is predominantly forested (mature, young and pole/sapling). A small area of shrub exists at the mouth of the stream, and in patches along riparian segment C1-1. This stream was not identified as fish-bearing.

Stream "D" begins as an irrigation ditch at the north end of Clearwater Lake. The first riparian segment is entirely cultivated, with the riparian structure changes to young coniferous forest in the next segment. Fisheries reaches 2 to 4 are primarily young and mature forest in the riparian areas. Patches of INITn are located within these segments. Fisheries reach 6 and riparian segment D10-2 contain swampy areas of which the riparian vegetation is mainly shrub. Fisheries reaches 7 and 8 also contain a large proportion of shrub. Fisheries reaches 9 and 10 are predominantly young, pine dominated forests, while reach 11 contains shrubs. Of the remaining nine reaches, eight are predominantly mature, coniferous dominated forests, and one is shrub (reach 14). Harvesting has occurred in reaches 13, 14, 15, 17, 18 and 19. This stream was not identified as fish-bearing; however, suitable fish habitat may be present in the first four reaches.

Stream "DA" flows from the break between D4 and D5 into Clearwater Lake. These reaches have been identified as fish-bearing, and are predominantly forested with mature mixed and young coniferous dominated forests.

Several tributaries exist along stream "D". Stream "DB" is small (one fisheries reach) and the riparian vegetation is entirely mature, coniferous dominated forest. "DC", comprised of two fisheries reaches, was harvested approximately 15 years ago, and contains patches of shrub, mature and pole/sapling forests. "DD" is also comprised of one fisheries reach and is entirely mature, coniferous (pine) dominated forest.

Stream "E" (including all eight tributaries) enters Clearwater Lake from the west. "E" riparian vegetation is mainly shrub and young, deciduous or coniferous dominated forests. "EA" and "EB" have young, coniferous dominated riparian areas. "EC" and "ED" are mixtures of shrub and young coniferous, deciduous and mixed forests. "EE", "EF", "EG" and "EH" riparian areas are mainly mature and young forest. All these streams were identified as non fish-bearing, and harvesting has not occurred within the riparian areas.

Stream "G" enters stream "D" at the break between fisheries reaches 5 and 6. Stream "G" contains numerous tributaries (11) and drains a large area. The riparian areas of all tributaries and the mainstem are typical of the entire study area, areas of shrub mixed with young and mature deciduous or coniferous forests. Harvesting has occurred within one third of the fisheries reaches (G3, G4, G7, G8, G9, G10, GB2, GD4, GD5, GF1, GH2, GH3, GH4, GH5, and GH6). The majority of the harvested areas have revegetated to a shrub/herb structural stage. Fish were not found within this system.

Stream "H" has not experienced harvesting and consists of one fisheries reach and flows into the west end of Clearwater Lake. The riparian area consists of young and mature forest with a small amount of shrub at the confluence to the lake.

A number of the streams outlined above are seasonal in nature. No studies have conducted a stream by stream assessment to identify this, however. Refer to Hart (1997) for some additional information on hydrologic information in the watershed.

Table 1 provides comments specific to the study area in relation to prioritizing criteria identified in WRTC #6.

The mandate of the riparian assessment within the WRP is, generally, to rehabilitate riparian areas associated with fish bearing streams that have been impacted by past forest harvesting, with the intent of restoring their historical function. It was difficult in some cases to identify impacted areas based solely on riparian vegetation structure in the Clearwater Lake watershed. For example, shrub vegetation (normally considered a structure with loss of riparian function) occurs naturally throughout the watershed, and cannot be easily used as an indicator of forest development impacts. Due to the state of riparian ecological conditions in the watershed, the process for identifying impacted sites for the site level procedure had to be altered.

The first step taken to determine sites for the next assessment level was an assessment of riparian areas and their association with both forest harvesting and fish bearing streams. No reaches were found to be associated with both fish bearing streams and harvested blocks. This is due mostly to the limited extent of fish in the watershed and the occurance of harvesting at higher elevations in the watershed away from fish values.

Although no sites were found to be both associated with fish bearing streams and forest development, a number of sites were selected to determine riparian function. Seven (7) sites were selected from the Watershed Level Assessment. The sites were selected for the placement of descriptive plots. These plots were assessed to determine ecological function in a range of riparian vegetation classes. The results helped to point to impacted riparian function as well as the riparian function of natural systems in this watershed. The knowledge of natural function of riparian areas is important when developing prescriptions.

The sites selected for subsequent field visits are identified in Table 2.

An evaluation of the results of the Watershed Level Riparian Assessment indicated no riparian impact along confirmed fish bearing streams. To ensure productive field assessment and prescription development, the standard procedures as outlined in WRTC #6 were altered as outlined above. These changes were made in consultation with the BioTerra Fisheries Biologist managing the Fish Habitat Assessment efforts in the Clearwater Lake Watershed. The following discussion outlines the general objectives of the site assessments and the procedures used.

Based on the selection of sites as outlined by the Watershed Level assessment, descriptive plots were carried out to characterize the ecological functions of several different riparian vegetation classes.

The circumstances within the study area (negligible impacts to important riparian areas associated with fish bearing streams) did not allow for establishment of the standard quantitative plots as outlined in WRTC #6.

Descriptive plots were placed at the sites at which ecological function was to be determined. These plots consisted of the standard field assessment associated with the completion of Silviculture Prescriptions. This is consistent with the procedures outlined in WRTC #6.

The site level riparian assessment field work was conducted during the week of September 29 - October 3, 1997.

The general results from the descriptive plot site assessment are displayed in Table 3. The field cards associated with the descriptive plots (silviculture prescription field forms - Form FS711A) can be found in Appendix 4.

Due to a small number of fish habitat based riparian impacts within the Clearwater Lake watershed, the procedures used for the Site Level assessments were altered with respect to the standards found in WRTC#6. The lack of riparian impacts was due to 1) the limited current and potential fish distribution in the watershed 2) the lack of direct or significant forest development impacts to fish bearing streams. The resulting methodology attempted to examine the riparian function within the watershed and determine the potential for riparian enhancement in areas where instream work is proposed.

No sites were identified for riparian restoration work.

The riparian functions in both impacted and unimpacted riparian segments was determined for the sites outlined in Table 3 and discussed in more detail below. The awareness of riparian function is important to recognize if restoration work goes ahead in the future.

The stream in this reach is located in a small flat bottomed gully in which natural shrub communities exist (see Appendix 2). The area sampled was up the bank from the stream/shrub community. The ecological classification of this area is SBPSxc (subzone) 02 (site series). This represents the driest site series in the SBPS xc subzone. The stand was dominated by lodgepole pine with an approximate site index of 15m. Due to the dry ecosystem, the growth rates (SI(50) of 15m) and density (200 st/ha >7.5 cm dbh in the plot) are relatively low. In addition, there was very little development of a forest floor with naturally exposed mineral soil in a number of locations in the plot.

This ecosysem, due to the ecology and the microtopography of the area, has a relatively low impact on the stream as it pertains to LWD input, stream shading, or sediment filtering.

This riparian area is found within an undisturbed stand. The ecosystem classification of the area is SBPS xc (subzone) 05 (site series). The overstory is predominantly spruce with a small lodgepole pine content. A well developed forest floor and shrub/herb community exists. All riparian functions are maintained in their natural state.

This riparian area is unique in its classification. The east side of the stream in which the plot was located was classified as SPBS xc (subzone) 06 (site series) with a thick (>100 cm) organic soil. The west side of the stream was significantly drier, however, with similar ecosystem development to Reach DA-1 above. The plot was dominated with relatively large (30 cm dbh) spruce and a well developed forest floor and understory shrub/herb community. LWD and SOD inputs, sediment filtering and shading were all functioning well in their natural state.

This riparian area is located in a cutblock with regeneration of both conifer (spruce an lodgepole pine) and deciduous (trembling aspen) taking place. The ecosystem classification of this area is SBPS xc (variant) 03/05 (site series). As conifer and deciduous regeneration has started, longterm LWD and SOD inputs will improve. Sediment filtering ability of this riparian area is high due to the wel developed shrub and herb understory. Stream shading is currently moderate with deciduous tree growth improving the shading signficantly in the next ten years.

This riparian area is located in a cutblock. Significant deciduous growth has occured with over 7500/ha of sapling and pole size aspen growing within the plot. The ecosystem classification of this area is SBPS xc (subzone) 03 (site series) with significant forest floor and shrub/herb communities present. As both conifer (in adjacent cutblock) and deciduous (along the stream) regeneration has started in the adjacent cutblock, short and longterm LWD inputs will improve. Stream shading, sediment filtering and SOD input abilities are all very well developed in this reach.

This site was located in a cutblock with shrub and/or regeneration development taking place. The ecosystem classification is SBPS xc (variant) 04 (site series). A thick (13cm) forest floor is present in this riparian area which provides some stability to the stream channel while vegetation development is taking place. Due to the presence of regeneration and shrub communities developing along the stream, future SOD inputs and stream shading will increase. Sediment filtering ability is very well developed in this riparian area due to the well developed forest floor and shrub/herb communities.

Please note that the discussion of riparian ecosystem function and specifically the riparian functions identified in Oikos et al (1996) were developed independent of stream class or relative importance of the riparian functions. Please refer to Table A2.4 in Oikos et al (1996) for an outline of the relative importance of riparian functions for each stream class. The relative importance of maintaining riparian functions as outlined in Table A2-4 are consistent with those noted in the Clearwater Lake watershed.

Due to the ecosystems currently found along D-5, DA-1 and DA-2 (reaches where instream work is proposed), riparian restoration or enhancement opportunities are negligible. Any instream work, however, that disturbs the riparian ecosystem should include restoration measures.

• which side of the stream (N,S,E,W)
• which side of the RMA (N,S,E,W)
• adjacency (beside stream, up to ??m up from the stream (width)
• behind another RVC class (placement)
• distribution (patchy, uniform, etc)
• as well as additional information as deemed necessary or noted in this document.