Stream Impacts

1
Stream Impacts

• Many of our streams and rivers have been channel
  changed, dammed, or polluted
• At least half of our total stream miles are
  degraded in some way
• Many are not fishable or swimmable due to
  pollution or other alteration

2
Stream Impacts

• Because highways
• frequently follow
• stream valleys, they
• often impact streams
• and riparian
• vegetation

3
What is Stream Restoration?

• Stream restoration attempts to re-establish the
  general structure, function, and self-sustaining
  behavior of a stream to a better functional
  condition, stabilizes or reverses stream
  aggradation or degradation, and enables more
  productive, diverse, aquatic habitats. Approaches
  include
• Removal of low-head dams or other watershed
  disturbances that are causing stream instability

4

• Installation of structures and planting of
  vegetation to protect streambanks and provide
  habitat
• Reshaping or replacing unstable stream reaches
  with appropriately designed stream channels and
  floodplains.

5
Stream Mitigation in the National Mitgation
Action Plan

• Mitigation for impacts to streams
• Compendium of technical approaches to condition
  assessment
• Stream mitigation protocols
• 50 techniques from across the country
• Being evaluated/sorted
• Resource manual with selection key

6
Widely Used Stream Assessment Approaches

• Rosgen approach based on physical hydrology and
  reference streams does not include biological
  assessment
• Proper functioning condition includes
  biological indicators NOTE May falsely assume
  that the stream reach under consideration was
  once in proper functioning condition

7
Programmatic Stream Restoration

• Provides ecological gains where they are most
  needed and can be sustained
• Can be Focused on statewide, regional, or
  watershed conservation priorities
• important habitats
• water quality,
• saving key parcels from development or
  degradation

8
Programmatic approaches

•           Improves project delivery and
  streamlines Section 404 permitting
•           Makes the process more predictable
  sets expectations and commitments for all parties
  

9
What are we doing?
10
Section 404 Jurisdiction

• Waters of the United States subject to Section
  404
• Streams adjacent or tributary to all navigable
  waters and interstate waters
• Streams which are tributary to aquatic resources
  significant to interstate commerce

11
Mitigation

• Permits can be conditioned requiring mitigation
  for fill in streams
• Activities so required are eligible for Fedaid
  funds
• Restoration of previous impacts due to Federal
  aid projects also eligible on currrent projects
  (4r provisions up to 20 percent of project
  costs)

12
FHWA website

• Restoration of Fish Habitat in Relocated Streams
• http//www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/fish1.htm
• Case Histories in Stream Restoration using modern
  techniques The Effects of Highways on Streams