Lower Terwer Creek Restoration Effectiveness Monitoring
Yurok Tribal Fisheries Program
2005
Methods
Riparian Vegetation and Photographic Monitoring
Restoration objectives include increasing the composition of native riparian plants,
vegetative cover, structural diversity, and promoting bank and channel stability in lower
Terwer Creek. To assess changes in riparian parameters, vegetation transect surveys and
photographic monitoring were conducted in the project area according to methods
outlined in Collins (2003). Five permanent geo-referenced vegetation transects were
established through the project area (DFG Site 1) in early August 2004 (Figure A).
Photograph stations were established at transect end points and at select distances along
each transect. At each station, photographs were taken facing downstream, upstream, and
facing both valley walls.
Vegetation surveys and photographic documentation were conducted in summer 2004
prior to restoration implementation to document baseline conditions. Surveys and
photographic documentation were also conducted during summer 2005 following
restoration implementation. Vegetation surveys and photographic monitoring will
continue at select intervals in the future to quantitatively monitor riparian response to
specific restoration treatments.
Channel and Bank Stability Monitoring
Detailed three-dimensional topographic surveys of the channel and adjacent land surfaces
were conducted in the vicinity of DFG Site 1 using a Total Station. Permanent georeferenced benchmarks and three cross section locations were established in winter 2005
(Figure B). Surveys were conducted in spring 2005 to document baseline channel and
floodplane conditions. Surveys were also conducted in summer 2005 to document
changes following the first winter after implementing restoration phase 1.
Results
Riparian Vegetation and Photographic Monitoring
Dominant vegetation types observed in DFG Site 1 during both years were grasses and
flowers, blackberry, and willow (Figure D). The increase in willow cover in 2005 was
due to the construction of several willow baffles through the project area. The Douglas
fir category was populated at a very low level (0.02 percent) in 2005 due to planting
efforts at the site (Figure D). The amount of bare ground observed in transects 1 through
3 was similar for both years (Figure E). Construction of willow baffles and willow
planting resulted in the decrease in bare ground observed in transects 1, 2 and 4 (Figure
F). The amount of bare ground observed along transect 5 increased in 2005 due to the
loss of riparian vegetation from high winter flows. Most of the riparian vegetation at this
site is in the first (1-3 ft) and last (>15 ft) height classes (Figure G). The increase of
vegetation in the last height class observed in 2005 was in part a result of the construction
of numerous willow baffles.
Channel and Bank Stability Monitoring
Approximately 3,000 feet of the primary and secondary channels and 20 acres of adjacent
land were surveyed in spring 2005. Topographic data was brought into ArcView and
rectified to the Klamath Glen USGS 1993 DOQ. Channel and land features were
digitized to create GIS based maps of the project area pre- and post-restoration
implementation (Figures X and X). Cross section data collected in spring 2005 are
presented in Figure H. All other topographic data is currently going through QA/QC and
being incorporated into YTFP GIS. YTFP plans to conduct annual topographic surveys
through this project area and adjacent reaches.
Figure A. Site map depicting permanent vegetation monitoring transect locations
established by the Yurok Tribal Fisheries Program in summer 2004 in Terwer Creek,
Lower Klamath River. Map base image: 2004 Aerial Photograph.
Figure B. Site map depicting permanent cross section locations and channel survey data
collected by the Yurok Tribal Fisheries Program in spring 2005 in Terwer Creek, Lower
Klamath River. Map base image: 2004 Aerial Photograph.
30
2004
2005
Percent Total Cover
25
20
15
10
5
ss
r
G
ra
Fi
pa
s
m
Pa
Ex
D
ou
gl
as
Th
ot
ic
Bl
a
ss
ist
le
er
rry
A
ld
W
/F
ck
be
ill
o
er
lo
w
sh
Ti
ck
G
ra
Br
u
oo
d
nw
Co
tto
w
0
Figure D. Vegetation types observed along vegetation transects located in a restoration
site (DFG Site 1) located in Terwer Creek, Lower Klamath River. The 2004 data was
collected prior to restoration implementation and the 2005 data was collected following
phase 1 implementation.
2004
90
2005
Percent Bare Ground
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
5
D
FG
1
X
S
4
D
FG
1
X
S
3
D
FG
1
X
S
2
S
X
1
FG
D
D
FG
1
X
S
1
0
Figure E. Percent bare ground observed along vegetation transects located in a
restoration site (DFG Site 1) located in Terwer Creek, Lower Klamath River. The 2004
data was collected prior to restoration implementation and the 2005 data was collected
following phase 1 implementation.
Figure F. Photographs taken from a permanent photographic monitoring point in Terwer
Creek, Lower Klamath River. The upper photograph was taken in summer 2004 and the
lower photograph was taken in summer 2005. Note the willow baffles in the fore ground
of the 2005 photograph.
2004
35
2005
Percent Veg Cover
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
I
II
III
Vegetation Height Class
Figure G. Amount of vegetation within three height classes (I = 0-3 ft; II = 3-15 ft; III =
>15 ft) observed along vegetation transects located in a restoration site (DFG Site 1)
located in Terwer Creek, Lower Klamath River. The 2004 data was collected prior to
restoration implementation and the 2005 data was collected following phase 1
implementation.
102.0
DFG1 XS1
Arbitrary Elevation (ft)
101.0
LB Pin
100.0
RB Pin
99.0
Side Channel
98.0
Thalweg
97.0
96.0
0
25
50
75
102.0
100
125
150
175
200
225
DFG1 XS2
Arbitrary Elevation (ft)
101.0
LB Pin
100.0
RB Pin
99.0
98.0
Side Channel
97.0
Thalweg
96.0
0
25
50
75
Arbitrary Elevation (ft)
102.0
100
125
150
175
200
225
200
225
DFG1 XS3
101.0
RB Pin
100.0
LB Pin
99.0
98.0
97.0
Side Channel
Thalweg
Thalweg
96.0
0
25
50
75
100
125
150
175
Distance (ft)
Figure H. Cross sections in a restoration site (DFG Site 1) surveyed in spring 2005 in
Terwer Creek, Lower Klamath River. Note the elevation axis is exaggerated compared to
the distance axis.
Figure F. Photographs taken from a permanent photographic monitoring point in Terwer
Creek, Lower Klamath River. The upper photograph was taken in summer 2004 and the
lower photograph was taken in summer 2005. Note the willow baffles in the fore ground
and on the floodplane in the 2005 photograph.
Figure F. Photographs taken from a permanent photographic monitoring point in Terwer
Creek, Lower Klamath River. The upper photograph was taken in summer 2004 and the
lower photograph was taken in summer 2005. Note the blackberry patch located in the
lower right of the 2004 photograph and the absence of the blackberry patch in 2005.
Figure F. Photographs taken from a permanent photographic monitoring point in Terwer
Creek, Lower Klamath River. The upper photograph was taken in summer 2004 and the
lower photograph was taken in summer 2005. Note the buried large wood structure in the
fore ground and the willow baffles in the 2005 photograph.