Phase 3 interim report August 2014
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Local non-profit source water protection agency
Implementing “Getting to the Source”, with 82 recommendations
Covers two watershed area, the Wascana and the Upper Qu’Appelle
Agriculture programming, invasive weed management and research
More info at www.wuqwatr.ca
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Lack of Riparian Health Assessment data in
Wascana Watershed identified in 2008
Funding received for project design from
Saskatchewan Watershed Authority in
2009/10
Field work was delayed by flood conditions in
2011
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First field assessments in summer 2012 within City of Regina boundaries
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Further design and field assessments took place in 2013 on Creek upstream of Regina
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Third phase completed this summer downstream of Regina to the Qu’Appelle, and on portion of Cottonwood Creek
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Smallest Saskatchewan watershed area, with highest population density
Highly modified environment.
Major urban impact, and intensive cropping
Saskatchewan State of the Watershed Report condition ranking is “Impacted”
Saskatchewan State of the Watershed Report stressor ranks “High Intensity”
Issues of flooding, invasives, nutrient loading, high streamflow downstream of Regina.
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Riparian Health Assessment uses observational data to measure indicators of riparian health
Some indicators involve identification of plant species composition and plant cover, and condition of plant life
Other indicators classify the physical condition of the bank such as structural composition and integrity
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Allows for a better understanding of the condition of key ecological functions on the landscape
Data collected can be used as a baseline to monitor condition over time
Results can compare different management zones along a waterway
Results can inform management decisions made by landowners and managers
Can be used to identify project sites
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Trap sediment
Build and maintain streambanks
Store flood water and energy
Recharge of aquifers
Filter and buffer water
Reduce and dissipate stream energy
Maintain biodiversity
Create primary productivity
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Balances erosion with bank restoration – reduces effects of erosion by adding bank elsewhere
Increases stability and resilience
Maintains or restores the profile of the channel – and extends the width of riparian area through higher water table
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Utilizes two categories – Lotic for rivers and streams, lentic for lakes, sloughs, wetlands
Utilizes set questions – 12 for lotic system, 9 for lentic system
Utilizes visual observation and assigns point scores based on data
Overall Health score of 80% or greater rates
“healthy”
Overall Health score of 60%-79% rates “healthy with problems”
Overall Health score of less than 60% rates
“unhealthy”
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Scores 80 or higher
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All riparian functions are being performed
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High level of riparian condition
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Demonstrates resiliency and stability
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Scores range from 60-79
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Many riparian functions are being performed, but some clear signs of stress are apparent
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The reach area many not be as capable of rebounding from floods and human activity
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Scores 0 -59
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Most riparian functions are severely impaired or have been lost
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Reach has lost most of its resiliency, stability is compromised
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Preferred species have deep binding root mass
Most preferred species are native plants
Good balance of trees –Willow, Manitoba
Maple, Elm, Green Ash, Hawthorn
Shrubs Chokecherry, Saskatoon, Dogwood
Forbs and grasses - Cattails, rushes, reed grass, native grasses
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Invasive species out-compete preferred species
Often are exotic plants that lack local controls
Invasive plants impair riparian function
Brome grass is pervasive throughout watershed, replaces preferred grasses
Disturbance plants grow where preferred species have disappeared
Sow thistle, burdock, dandelion
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Health Rating Composition of Wascana Creek Downstream of the City of Regina
15%
0%
Unhealthy
Healthy with Problems
85%
Healthy
Figure 2 : This pie chart shows the health rating composition (healthy, unhealthy, and healthy with problems) of
Wascana Creek flowing from the western city limits of the City of Regina to where Wascana Creek flows into the
Qu'Appelle River.
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Average coverage score was 3 out of 6, which indicates significant areas of bare ground due to water
Lots of areas where flooding had washed out large areas, especially on outside meanders
Bare ground was more common further downstream
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Average score for Wascana Creek was .04 out of 6
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Prevalence of smooth brome
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Also widespread scentless chamomile, thistle,
Absinth and locations with leafy spurge
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Overall average score on trees and shrubs is
8.8 out of 12
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Trees are present and regenerating themselves
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Presence of beaver browsing lowers score
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Where are the beaver dams?
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Average Wascana score of 2 out of 6
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Indicates that overall only 35%-65% of the streambank is anchored with deep, binding root mass
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Average scores are 4.5 out of 6 for human caused bare ground
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Average score of 4.8 for human alteration
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These are good indications about local management
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Average Wascana score is .7 out of 6
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This indicates that at least 30% of the site reach shows active lateral cutting from stream flow
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Average Wascana score was 2.1 out of 9
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This means that the stream cannot access its flood plain
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This continues the cycle of incisement and slumping, until bank stability is achieved by erosion
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Health Ratings of Cottonwood Creek
50%
37%
13%
Unhealthy
Healthy with Problems
Healthy
Figure 3: This pie chart shows the health rating composition (healthy, healthy with problems, and unhealthy) of Cottonwood Creek from grid SK-730 to where it joins Wascana Creek.
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Physical structure of streambank has been clearly compromised by high peak flows, and intense rainfall events over the year
Problems with high flows are compounded by
60 meter drop in elevation
Highly erodible glacial till soils further downstream
Clay, loam, gravel, sand
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Scores overall lowered due to invasive plant species
Some species like smooth brome are too pervasive to be controlled
Expansion of other species like leafy spurge can be controlled
Evidence of flood damage leading to spread of invasive and disturbance plants
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Flow from WWTP has altered Creek hydrograph to flow year round
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Impacts from recent high flows are pronounced
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Potential impacts from stormwater flows from hard surface in Regina. High peak runoff events downstream
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Constant flows are likely impacting establishment of vegetation, increasing erosive force on gravelly glacial soils
Recent major slumping at sites like Sherwood
Forest and Deer Valley
Seven Bridges Road in RM #189 has serious erosion issues
Cottonwood Creek is healthy but now the receiving waterbody for the GTH stormwater system
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Healthiest sites are riparian park areas in
Regina
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Much engineering alteration in City and upstream, which may speed up water
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Creek serves as natural pathway for invasives
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Improvement will require cooperation and creativity
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Some agricultural impacts, such as overspray with herbicide
No notable siltation from cropping
No notable impacts from livestock overall
Naturalization of parks and stormwater channels helps manage city runoff
Need more information about where flows are coming from in the watershed
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