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Realign, Connect, and/or Create Channel
Habitat Improvement | 30
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Definition
Active attempts to directly add sinuosity, meanders, side channels, and/or off-channel habitats (e.g., sloughs or oxbows). May include reconnection of historical channels (either via excavation or diversion of existing streamflow), excavation of new channels, and/or significantly improving the functionality of existing channels (e.g., creating a "natural" spawning channel for chum). If work is solely to add structures/features that change hydraulic conditions and that may eventually cause channel realignment or create a pool, then use WE# 29: Instream Habitat Complexity and Stabilization. If the work includes removal of a barrier for fish passage into upstream reaches of the existing channel, then use WE# 84: Remove/Install Diversion, WE# 85: Remove/Breach Dam, or WE# 184: Install Fish Passage Structure, since the miles of opened habitat must be recorded as a metric. If work is to create, restore, or enhance wetland function then use WE # 180: Create, Restore, and/or Enhance Wetland.
Deliverables (recommended)
- The completion of the specified channel work.
Rules and Examples (work element scenarios and associated rules)
Rule 1: Do not include the ESA consultation, cultural surveys, or O&M costs when budgeting for this work element. This work element is only to cover actual construction or alterations to a channel.
Example:
WE: Realign, Connect, and/or Create Channel
WE Title: Construct side channels along Big River
WE Description: Construct side channels along Big River to benefit Bull Trout.
WE: Produce Environmental Compliance Documentation
WE Title: Instream permits and cultural resources surveys for Big River
WE Description: Work may require ESA consultation, obtaining permits, and cultural resource surveys prior to the start of work.
WE: Replace/Maintain Instream Structure
WE Title: Maintenance or adjustments to existing Big River habitat structures
Rule 2: This work element must be used repetitively for each different river or stream that is to undergo channel construction or alteration. If multiple channels are to be constructed or multiple channel areas are to be altered (sinuosity gain, etc.) within a single river or stream system, each independent action at that planned location must be separated into its own work element. List the planned thalweg distance for a channel that is to be created or list the planned increase in thalweg distance if sinuosity is to be added to an existing channel.
Example:
WE: Realign, Connect, and/or Create Channel
WE Title: Construct side channel along Big River between RM 11 and RM 15
WE Description: Construct side channel along Big River to add a channel distance of 350 feet (measured at channel thalweg) to benefit Bull Trout.
WE: Realign, Connect, and/or Create Channel
WE Title: Construct side channels along Big River between RM 28 and 29
WE Description: Construct side channels along Big River to add a channel distance of 600 feet (measured at channel thalweg) to benefit Bull Trout.
WE: Realign, Connect, and/or Create Channel
WE Title: Enhance sinuosity along Deep Creek
WE Description: Sinuosity enhancements within Deep Creek will add 425 feet of channel length (utilizing thalweg measurement) to Deep Creek at RM 3.
Milestones (may include)
- Environmental compliance requirements complete
On-the-ground work associated with this work element cannot proceed until this milestone is complete. Milestone is complete when final documentation is received from BPA environmental compliance staff (completion can be based on pre-existing environmental documentation from BPA).
- Completion of site plan with excavation grades
- Negotiations with landowners completed
- Sub-contractor hired for implementation
- Begin channel construction
- Completed channel construction
- GIS recording of channel
Metrics
| Metric |
Metric Type |
Metric Guidance |
Metric
Required |
Metric
Type |
Metric
Precision |
| 1388 |
# of structures installed |
If within the period of channel construction, complexity structures are going to be built such as, Weirs, J-hooks, or LWD structures, then report the total number of structures to be completed. For example, if 10 J-hooks, 3 weirs and 35 pieces of LWD are to be placed; total number reported = 48. |
Required |
number |
1.0 |
| 1389 |
Start latitude of treated stream reach |
This metric only applies to work in riparian areas. Must be entered in decimal degrees. For help converting from degrees, minutes, seconds go to http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/bickel/DDDMMSS-decimal.html. |
Required |
lat |
0.000001 |
| 1390 |
End latitude of treated stream reach |
This metric only applies to work in riparian areas. Must be entered in decimal degrees. For help converting from degrees, minutes, seconds go to http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/bickel/DDDMMSS-decimal.html. |
Required |
lat |
0.000001 |
| 1391 |
Start longitude of treated stream reach |
This metric only applies to work in riparian areas. Must be entered in decimal degrees. For help converting from degrees, minutes, seconds go to http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/bickel/DDDMMSS-decimal.html. |
Required |
long |
0.000001 |
| 1392 |
End longitude of treated stream reach |
This metric only applies to work in riparian areas. Must be entered in decimal degrees. For help converting from degrees, minutes, seconds go to http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/bickel/DDDMMSS-decimal.html. |
Required |
long |
0.000001 |
| 1517 |
# of acres of riparian non-wetland habitat treated |
Identify the total acres of habitat treated in this habitat zone. Riparian/Floodplain: A riparian zone is the transition zone between aquatic and upland habitat. These habitats are related to and influenced by surface or subsurface waters, especially the margins of streams, lakes, ponds, wetlands, seeps, and ditches between land and a stream; and above the average high watermark, or bankfull height. Plant communities along the river margins are called riparian vegetation, characterized by hydrophilic plants. This habitat zone excludes wetland habitat. |
Required |
number |
0.01 |
| 1518 |
# of acres of riparian wetland habitat treated |
Identify the total acres of habitat treated in this habitat zone. Riparian Wetland: Wetlands within the Riparian habitat zone are habitat that is transitional between terrestrial and aquatic where the water table is usually at or near the land surface or land that is covered by shallow water. Wetlands have one or more of the following characteristics: at least periodically, the land supports predominantly hydrophytic plants; the substrate is predominantly undrained hydric soil; and the substrate is non-soil and is saturated with water or covered by shallow water at sometime during the yearly growing season. These wetlands are typically considered connected wetlands that interact with the hyporheic zone, which is a region beneath and lateral to a stream bed. |
Required |
number |
0.01 |
| 1519 |
# of acres of freshwater non-wetland habitat treated |
Identify the total acres of habitat treated in this habitat zone. Freshwater Non-Tidal: Habitat with freshwater flowing in a channel or watercourse, including lakes, ponds, and adjacent areas below the high water mark. This habitat zone excludes wetland habitat. |
Required |
number |
0.01 |
| 1520 |
# of acres of freshwater wetland habitat treated |
Identify the total acres of habitat treated in this habitat zone. Freshwater Wetland Non-Tidal: Wetlands within the instream habitat zone typically on the stream bank are habitat that is transitional between terrestrial and aquatic where the water table is usually at or near the land surface or land that is covered by shallow water. Wetlands have one or more of the following characteristics: at least periodically, the land supports predominantly hydrophytic plants; the substrate is predominantly undrained hydric soil; and the substrate is non-soil and is saturated with water or covered by shallow water at sometime during the yearly growing season |
Required |
number |
0.01 |
| 1521 |
# of acres of estuarine wetland habitat treated |
Identify the total acres of habitat treated in this habitat zone. Estuarine Tidal Wetland: Wetlands within the tidal estuarine zone are habitat that is transitional between terrestrial and aquatic where the water table is usually at or near the land surface or land that is covered by shallow water. Wetlands have one or more of the following characteristics: at least periodically, the land supports predominantly hydrophytic plants; the substrate is predominantly undrained hydric soil; and the substrate is non-soil and is saturated with water or covered by shallow water at sometime during the yearly growing season. Tidal marshes may be classified as marine source tidal, freshwater tidal, or tidal forested wetlands. |
Required |
number |
0.01 |
| 1522 |
# of acres of estuarine non-wetland habitat treated |
Identify the total acres of habitat treated in this habitat zone. Estuarine Tidal Non-Wetland: Habitat that is part of a semi-enclosed coastal body of water that is subject to the ebb and flow of tides, with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the nearshore marine zone. Estuaries are environments whose pH, salinity, and water levels are subject to the ebb and flow of tides, and the physical and chemical properties of the river that feeds the estuary and the ocean from which it derives its salinity. This habitat zone excludes wetland habitat. |
Required |
number |
0.01 |
| 1547 |
# of miles of stream treated with spawning gravel |
Length of treatment in miles. This should be the total length of the stream to be treated with gravel placement (If placement of gravel is dumped with the expectation of distibution from high flows, identify the lenght of stream expected to be treated) The addition of gravel, sand and fine sediments into the stream with size ratios to support salmonid spawning and rearing. If sediment is larger than gravel and is intended for stabilization use WE # 29 Instream Habitat Complexity and Stabilization |
Required |
number |
0.01 |
| 1553 |
# of acres of freshwater wetland affected by treatment |
Includes off-channels after realignment. Wetland is defined as meeting the federal standard for wetland delineation under the Clean Water Act. This metric only applies to work in a pre-existing wetland or work which reconnects historic wetland. |
Required |
number |
0.01 |
| 1554 |
# of acres of estuarine wetland affected by treatment |
Includes off-channels after realignment. Wetland is defined as meeting the federal standard for wetland delineation under the Clean Water Act. This metric only applies to work in a pre-existing wetland or work which reconnects historic wetland. |
Required |
number |
0.01 |
| 1559 |
# of miles of freshwater stream before treatment |
Self-Explanatory |
Required |
number |
0.01 |
| 1560 |
# of miles of estuarine stream before treatment |
Self-Explanatory |
Required |
number |
0.01 |
| 1561 |
# of miles of freshwater stream after treatment |
Includes off-channels after realignment. |
Required |
number |
0.01 |
| 1562 |
# of miles of estuarine stream after treatment |
Includes off-channels after realignment. |
Required |
number |
0.01 |
Location Guidance
Identify point where work took place or approximate mid-point of stream section treated.
Environmental Compliance
Applicability and status of the following environmental compliance requirements can be found on the Environmental Compliance tab for that work element in your SOW for all 2007 contracts forward. BPA's Environmental staff will update and maintain this information in Pisces in real time, so that you can check the status of environmental compliance on your project at any time. Note: Many of the fields are set to auto-load in Pisces, but the settings will be reviewed by BPA's Environmental staff prior to the contract being finalized, and may be revised depending on the specific circumstances. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
NEPA coverage for this work element will be identified by BPA's Environmental Compliance Lead. Endangered Species Act (ESA)
ESA consultation is typically required for this work element. National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)
NHPA Section 106 consultation is typically required for this work element which often includes a cultural/historic resource survey by a qualified archaeologist. Public Involvement
Public involvement is typically required for this work element. The contractor should work with BPA Environmental staff to document previous or ongoing outreach efforts associated with this work or to develop a public involvement plan.
Associated Work Elements
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