Stream Assessment Cut-block: For: Island Timberlands Limited Partnership, Cameron Operation

Transcription

1 Stream Assessment Cut-block: For: Island Timberlands Limited Partnership, Cameron Operation Tony Norris Area Engineer Island Timberlands Cameron Operation Port Alberni D.G. Rigets E.I.A. CTech. PO Box 127 Errington BC V0R 1V0 (250) January 24, 2008

2 File #: 734 Date: Thursday, January 24 th, 2008 Area: Cut-block # Subject: Stream classification and determination of fish presence or absence. Watershed Code: Name: FRANKLIN RIVER Watershed Code: Waterbody Identifier: Stream Length: Stream Order: 4 Stream Magnitude: 52 Dates Surveyed: January 21, 2008 Stream Name: Tributaries of Franklin River 00000ALBN km Cut Block Location: Approximately 1.5km along Museum Mainline from the TMR Main junction. Survey Method: Field assessment. Objectives: To assess, and class according to the Island Timberlands Riparian Management SOP, tributaries of Franklin River which flow through the proposed cut-block # Introduction: On January 21, 2008 Darryl Rigets D.G.R. Consulting conducted a field assessment of the streams that flow through or adjacent to the proposed cut-block # Four streams and their tributaries were assessed. Creeks 1, 2, 2A, 3 and 4 into the Franklin River downstream of the Franklin River Museum Creek confluence. eratures in all streams surveyed were between and C 2

3 Observations Creek 1: Reach 1, class NB2(F) low gradient (8%) 3.5-meter wide perennial channel of cobble/boulder/bedrock/gravel substrate. Stream flow was normal at the time of the assessment. There is a 2-meter high bedrock waterfall approximately 120-meters upstream from the confluence with Franklin River. The waterfall is a possible barrier to fish migration. Reach 1 begins at Franklin River and ends at the 2- meter high bedrock waterfall. Length: 120 Meters. Average gradient: 8 % Average channel width: 3.5 Meters. Average wetted width: 2.0 Meters. Average depth: 15 Centimeters cobble/boulder/bedrock/gravel C Cobble/boulder/bedrock Reach 2, class NB2(F) low gradient (8%) 3.2-meter wide perennial channel of cobble/boulder/gravel substrate. Stream flow was normal at the time of the assessment. Reach 2 begins at the 2-meter high bedrock waterfall and ends and ends at the confluence with Creek 2. Reach # 2 Length: 120 Meters. Average gradient: 8 % Average channel width: 3.5 Meters. Average wetted width: 2.0 Meters. Average depth: 15 Centimeters cobble/boulder/gravel C Cobble/boulder/gravel/soils Creek 2: Reach 1: class ND1 (F) low gradient (6%) 1.6-meter wide ephemeral channel of cobble/gravel/boulder substrate. Although no fish were found within Reach 1 it must be classed as a fish stream as no natural barriers occur to fish bearing waters. Length: 350 Meters. Average gradient: 6 % Average channel width: 1.6 Meters. Cobble/gravel/boulder Cobble/gravel/hardpan 3

4 Creek 2A: Reach 1: class ND1(F) low gradient (6%) 1.0-meter wide ephemeral channel of gravel/cobble/hardpan substrate. Approximatly20-meters of Creek 2A that flows within the ditch line of Museum Mainline. Although no fish were found within Reach 1 it must be classed as a fish stream as no natural barriers occur to fish bearing waters. Length: 45 Meters. Average gradient: 6 % Average channel width: 1.0 Meters. gravel/cobble/hardpan Hardpan Reach 2: class ND1 low gradient (16%) 0.8-meter wide ephemeral channel of cobble/hardpan substrate. A <20% gradient occurs at the beginning of Reach 2 and gradients of >20% occur frequently further upstream. would not occur within Reach 2. Length: 45 Meters. Average gradient: 6 % Average channel width: 1.0 Meters. cobble/hardpan Hardpan 4

5 Creek 3: Reach 1: class NCF low gradient (18%) 2.0-meter wide ephemeral/intermittent channel of bedrock/boulder/cobble substrate. Reach 1, which is located within the flood plain of Franklin River. At 0+13m of reach 1 there is a 5-meter portion of the channel that is >20%. from the Franklin likely do not have access beyond this point. Although no fish were found in Reach 1 it must be classed as a fish stream because of its proximity to the Franklin River. Length: 25 Meters. Average gradient: 16 % Average channel width: 3.0 Meters. Average depth: 20 Centimeters cobble/boulder/gravel Cobble/boulder/gravel/soils Reach 2, class NCF low gradient (18%) 2.2-meter wide ephemeral channel of cobble/ boulder/gravel/bedrock substrate with some large woody debris retaining gravel cobble wedges. Reach 2 begins at the base of a 23% channel gradient and ends approximately 80-meters upstream where the slope ends. Stream flow was normal at the time of the assessment. No fish were found. Reach # 2 Length: 100 Meters. Average gradient: 18 % Average channel width: 2.2 Meters. Average wetted width: 0.8 Meters. cobble/ boulder/gravel/bedrock Cobble/boulder/gravel/soils No Reach 3, class NE low gradient (6%) 1.7-meter wide ephemeral channel of gravel/cobble/boulder substrate with some large woody debris retaining gravel cobble wedges. Reach 2 begins at the top of a 23% channel gradient and ends approximately 650-meters upstream at the Museum Mainline crossing. Stream flow was normal at the time of the assessment. No fish were found. Reach # 3 Length: 650 Meters. Average gradient: 18 % Average channel width: 1.5 Meters. Average wetted width: 0.8 Meters. gravel/cobble/boulder Cobble/boulder/gravel/soils No 5

6 Creek 4: Reach 1, class ND1 low gradient (8%) 1.0-meter wide ephemeral channel of organic/gravel/cobble substrate. Flow was low at the time of the assessment. Within the lower 20 m of Reach 1 the flow was subsurface. Further upstream the channel becomes better defined. would not occur win Creek 4. Length: 100 Meters. Average gradient: 8 % Average channel width: 1.0 Meters. organic/gravel/cobble Hardpan Conclusion: Creek 1 Reach 1, is fish bearing without barriers to Franklin River. Reach 2, occurs upstream from a barrier to fish migration, however, could not be sampled with confidence due primarily to low water temperature. Reach 2 of Creek 1 should be sampled at a later date when water temperature is favorable ( C). Creek 2: Reach 1, occurs upstream from a barrier to fish migration, however, could not be sampled with confidence due primarily to low water temperature. Reach 1 of Creek 2 should be sampled at a later date when water temperature is favorable ( C). Creek 2A: Reach 1, occurs upstream from a barrier to fish migration, however, and could not be sampled with confidence due primarily to low water temperature. Reach 1 of Creek 2A should be sampled at a later date when water temperature is more favorable ( C). Creek 3: Reach 1, is classed as fish bearing due to its proximity to Franklin River. Reach 2, is an ephemeral watercourse that occurs upstream from a barrier to fish migration therefore is a nonfish stream but is within 100-meters of fish bearing waters. Reach 3 is a non-fish bearing ephemeral stream that occurs upstream from a barrier to fish migration. Creek 4: Reach 1, is an ephemeral, non-fish bearing watercourse that occurs upstream from a barrier to fish migration. 6

7 According to the Private Land Forest Regulations and the Island Timberlands Riparian Management SOP the following streams are classed: Creek# Reach# Class Channel Type Creek 1 1 NB2 (F) Perennial 2 NC (F) Intermittent Creek 2 1 NC (F) Ephemeral Ck 2A 1 ND1 (F) Ephemeral Ck 3 1 NCF Ephemeral 2 NCF Ephemeral 3 NE Ephemeral Ck 4 1 ND1 Ephemeral Please call if you have any questions. D.G. Rigets E.I.A. CTech. 7

8 Photos: Photo 1: Creek 1, 1.8-meter high waterfall at top end of Reach 1. Photo 2: Creek 3, Looking down toward Franklin River from top of >20 gradient. 8

9 NE Franklin River R2 NE ND1 Museum Creek Stream Assessment Map 2-m high Waterfall Franklin River Top of 20% slope Begin >20% slope NC(F) R2 NB2(F) End 23% slope Base of 23% slope The Locations Of All Objects On This Map Are Approximate. R3 NE R2 NB2(F) R2 NB2(F) NCF NCF OP# Trim Map Sheet 92F017 LEGEND Road Location Gross Falling Boundary Built Road Wetland Creek Number Reach Name 1 Creek Class NC Scale: 1:5 000 Reach Boundary Streams: Non-fish Unknown m