Watershed Watershed AssessmentsAssessments

John HudsonJohn HudsonHabitat Restoration BiologistHabitat Restoration BiologistU.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceU.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceJuneau Fish and Wildlife Field Juneau Fish and Wildlife Field OfficeOffice

An essential tool for An essential tool for effective watershed effective watershed restorationrestoration

Created WetlandDuck Creek, Juneau

Assess: Assess: to determine the importance, size, or value of <assess a problem>

1. Established geographic scope2. Identify resources3. Assess existing conditions &

threats4. Develop solutions (i.e. actions)5. Prioritize actions6. Implement projects7. Monitor

Nossuk Creek

A Framework A Framework for for Project DevelopmentProject Development

Pullen Creek,Pullen Creek,SkagwaySkagway

Assessment (“Background”)Assessment (“Background”)•Historical informationHistorical information•Importance of Pullen CreekImportance of Pullen Creek

• Public perceptionsPublic perceptions• EconomicsEconomics• Fish and wildlife habitatFish and wildlife habitat• Ecosystem valuesEcosystem values• Current conditionsCurrent conditions• Fish habitatFish habitat• HydrologyHydrology

Problems & Solutions Problems & Solutions (“Action Plan”)(“Action Plan”)•Problem identification Problem identification

• Known problemsKnown problems• Potential problemsPotential problems

•SolutionsSolutions•Plans Plans

• ManagementManagement• Restoration Restoration • Education plansEducation plans

•Current and future ProjectsCurrent and future ProjectsTaiya Inlet Watershed Council, 2006Taiya Inlet Watershed Council, 2006

Stormwater Mapping and Mgmt. Stormwater Mapping and Mgmt. PlansPlans

Fish Passage Fish Passage ImprovementImprovement

““Healthy Healthy Streamside, Streamside,

Healthy Stream”Healthy Stream”BrochureBrochure

Selected projectsSelected projectsPullen CreekPullen Creek beforebefore

afterafter

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction

1.1 Watershed Description 1.2 Geology, Vegetation and Fauna 1.3 History of the Auke Lake Watershed

2. Hydrology, Water Rights and Wetlands 2.1 Auke Lake and Auke Lake Tributaries 2.2 Surface and Ground Water Rights 2.3 Wetlands

3. Fish and Fisheries Habitat 3.1 Fish Populations 3.2 History of Fish Propagation 3.3 Habitat Condition Summary

4. Water Quality 5. Land Use and Lake Management

5.1 Land Ownership 5.2 Land Use Designations 5.3 Zoning 5.4 Lake Management 5.5 Proposed Development in the Watershed

6. Community Uses of the Auke Lake Watershed 6.1 Auke Lake User Survey 6.2 Motorized Watercraft on Auke Lake 6.3 University of Alaska Southeast (UAS)

7. Watershed Condition Summary 8. Watershed Protection and Enhancement Opportunities 9. References 8. Appendices

Auke Lake Watershed AssessmentAuke Lake Watershed Assessment

Juneau Watershed Partnership, 2009Juneau Watershed Partnership, 2009

WetlandsWetlands

Fish HabitatFish HabitatLand ownershipLand ownership

Auke Lake Watershed AssessmentAuke Lake Watershed Assessment

Auke Lake Auke Lake Watershed Action Watershed Action PlanPlanResource Inventory and Mapping

Recommended Actions:

1.Locate wildlife travel corridors

2.Assess and map aquatic habitats

3.Conduct wetland delineations on borough and university lands

4.Examine relationships between habitat, zoning, and proposed development

5.Share maps and data with land managers and stakeholders

Fish Passage Inventory & Fish Passage Inventory & Habitat Assessment in HainesHabitat Assessment in Haines

Summer 2012: Summer 2012: Upstream HabitatUpstream HabitatAssessmentAssessment

Alaska Exotic Plant Information ClearinghouseAlaska Exotic Plant Information Clearinghouse(AKEPIC)(AKEPIC)

Montana Creek Montana Creek Invasive Plant Invasive Plant Survey Survey (Juneau)(Juneau)

Invasiveness ranksInvasiveness ranks

> 80 = Extremely Invasive 70-79 = Highly Invasive 60-69 = Moderately Invasive 50-59 = Modestly Invasive 40-49 = Weakly Invasive < 40 = Very Weakly Invasive

Juneau Invasive Plant Species Prioritization: ABC List EDRR—Near Juneau Ideally Assisting Neighboring Communities in the Management Area with Control Efforts, preventing spread to the Juneau area.

ABC Species Ranking (0-100)

Found in Juneau?

How much is in Juneau?

Control Ranking

ABC Species Ranking (0-100)

Found in Juneau?

Control Ranking

A/B

Bohemian Knotweed Polygonum X bohemicum

87 yes + ~34 Acres in Juneau

7/7 U,3,4

A Leafy Spurge Euphorbia esula

84 No 9/10 3,2,4

A Japanese Knotweed Polygonum cuspidatum

87 Yes 1 known location

7/7 U,3,4

A *Giant Hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum

81 No 9/10 3,2,4

A Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria

84 Yes 8/10 2,2,4

A American wht.waterlily Nymphaea odorata ssp. odorata

80 ? 6/7 U,2,4

A/B Reed Canarygrass Phalaris arundinacea

83 yes + 6/10 0,2,4

A Himalayan Blackberry Rubus discolor

77 No 9/10 2,3,4

A Ornamental Jewelweed Impatiens glandulifera

82 Yes > 6 locations 5/10 2,1,2

A Scotch broom Cytisus scoparius

69 No 8/10 3,2,3

A White Sweetclover Melilotus alba

81 Yes One location 8/10 3,1,4

B Pale Yellow/Yellow Flag Iris Iris pseudacorus

66 yes 6/10 0, 2, 4

A/B Orange Hawkeed Hieracium aurantiacum

79 yes + 8/10 3,2,3

B Foxtail Barley Hordeum jubatum

63 Yes? 9/10 2,3,4

A Yellow/ Meadow Hawkweed Hieracium caespitosum

79 yes Eagle beach 8/10 3,2,3

A Bull Thistle Cirsium vulgare Ten

61 No

3/10 0,0,3

A Cheatgrass Bromus tectorum

78 Yes 1 known location

6/10 2,0,4

C Narrowleaf Hawksbeard Crepis tectorum

54 No 3/7 U,0,3

A Canada Thistle Cirsium arvnese

76 No One known Location

10/10 3,3,4

? Fall Dandelion/Hawkbit Leontondon autumnalis

51

A European Bird Cherry Prunus padus

74 yes 5/10 0,2,3

C Prostate Knotweed Polygonum aviculare

45 ? 7/10 3,2,2

A Bird Vetch Vicia cracca

73 Yes 3 known locations

9/10 3,2,3

A Perennial/Moist Sowthistle Sonchus arvensis

73 Yes 4 known locations

8/10 3,2,4

A Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata

70 Yes 2 known locations

7/10 2,2,3

A Herb Robert Geranium robertianum

67 yes Threat to forest understory and spreading

5/10 3,0,2

A Siberian Pea Shrub Caragana arborescens

66 yes Arboretum + 5/7 U,2,3

Priority ABC’s

A - invasiveness rank ≥ 70 and locally rare

B - invasiveness rank ≥ 70 and widespread

C – invasiveness rank <70, rare or widespread.

Summer 2012Summer 2012Early Early Detection/Detection/Rapid Response Rapid Response ProjectProject

Ornamental Jewelweed (82, A)

Bohemian Knotweed (87, B)

Orange hawkweed (79, B)

Montana CreekWatershed

Klawock Watershed AssessmentsKlawock Watershed Assessments

Klawock Watershed Condition AssessmentKlawock Watershed Condition Assessment

Klawock Watershed Condition AssessmentKlawock Watershed Condition Assessment - - Restoration OpportunitiesRestoration Opportunities

Hatchery Creek Fish Hatchery Creek Fish Passage ImprovementPassage Improvement

Klawock Watershed Klawock Watershed Road Condition Road Condition SurveySurvey

Fish passage barriersFish passage barriers

Taiya Inlet Stream Condition AssessmentTaiya Inlet Stream Condition Assessment

Finding your nicheFinding your niche

Issues that POWWA has the capacity to address:Issues that POWWA has the capacity to address:• Invasive plant managementInvasive plant management

• New growth management in riparian and upland New growth management in riparian and upland areasareas

• Directing permittee responsible mitigationDirecting permittee responsible mitigation

• Restoration monitoringRestoration monitoring

• Ditch maintenance on state right-of-wayDitch maintenance on state right-of-way

• Stormwater managementStormwater management

• Fish passage improvementFish passage improvement

Thank Thank youyou

Twelvemile River