Bear Creek Riparian Restoration [ds2816]

Every year since 2002, members of the BCWG have participated in the international education and outreach program, World Water Monitoring Day, by collecting basic water quality measurements at eleven locations along Bear, Ash and Lack creeks within the Bear Creek Watershed. During this once-per-year monitoring event, BCWG members observed areas with little riparian cover and high water temperatures. These high water temperatures adversely affect the aquatic ecosystems and fishery of Bear Creek. Additionally, this lack of riparian vegetation makes stream banks more susceptible to erosion and ultimately leads to increased sediment delivery to the river.Building on the existing conditions documented in the Bear Creek Watershed Assessment, and the restoration goals and objectives identified in the Management Strategy, the BCWG proposes to purchase equipment to record diurnal stream temperatures, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity and electrical conductivity throughout the anadromous reaches of Bear Creek. The BCWG will use this temperature and water quality data to guide riparian revegetation efforts in developing a shading riparian canopy that will protect and enhance cold water resources within the range of anadromy.Implementing stream monitoring and riparian planting at this time meets several objectives outlined in the Bear Creek Watershed Management Strategy including:Implement temperature monitoring aimed at defining the existing temperature regime both seasonally and spatially;Collect baseline data and monitor temperature and flow as they relate to fish abundance;Rehabilitate habitat with projects that are adaptively integrated with other goals of the Management Strategy;Develop public outreach programs to educate Bear Creek Watershed residents and government agencies and officials about the efforts of the BCWG to maintain and improve watershed health.Implementing a restoration project of this type would also help identify areas in the watershed that are consistently in poorer condition to enable the development of restoration prescriptions (stream/ riparian/ sediment source reductions) that can improve those conditions.