Temperature and hydrological impacts of beaver-based stream restoration:

hypotheses, models and data.

AFS/TWS 9/30/2019

Chris Jordan, NOAA-FisheriesCarol Volk, South Fork Research Inc.Joe Wheaton, Utah State University

Nick Bouwes, Nick Weber, Eco Logical Research Inc.

Bridge Creek WatershedOregon, USA • 710 km2

John Day Basin

John Day Basin

Bridge Creek

BRIDGE CREEK INTENSIVELYMONITORED WATERSHED

Mitchell, OR

Mid-Columbia Steelhead

Slide from Nick Weber

Beaver inspired stream restoration: Bridge Ck.

Slide from Nick Weber

103

Phase 4

Dynamic EquilibriumPhase 3

Aggrading

Phase 1

IncisingPhase 2

Widening

100

101

102

Figure Adapted fromCluer and Thorne,2014 by Weber

DAM PERSISTENCE1988 - 2005

Demmer and Beschta, 2008

Mean Annual Flood Height 30 - 50

cm

BDAs - Beaver Dam Analogs

DisconnectedTerrace

Incision Trench

Slide from Nick Weber

Oregon, USA

John Day Basin

Bridge Creek

MurderersCreek

John Day Basin

Bridge Creek Watershed

Murderers Creek - Watershed Control

Spatial DesignTreatment Reaches - 4Control Reaches - 8Tributary Control - 2Watershed Control - 3

Mitchell, OR

Temporal Design2005

Pre-RestorationMonitoring

2009

RestorationImplementation

Adapted from Figure 2 of Bouwes et al. (2016)DOI: 10.1038/srep28581

Post-RestorationMonitoring

14 201506 07 08 10 11 12 13

Structure ID:

MC-08.2

WATER TABLE ELEVATION CHANGE

1’-3’ increase in the height of the water table

2006 2013

Slide from Nick Weber

FLOODPLAIN FREQUENTLY INUNDATED

Summer 2005

Summer 2014

Weber et al. (2017) DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176313

cou oe W

of:

(Before) (After)

Figure from Carol Volk (South Fork Research)

EXPANSION OF RIPARIAN ZONE

• Repeat high resolution (10 cm) imagery before& after 2009 treatment

BRIDGE CREEK NDVI ANALYSIS

~20% increase productivity

natural storage resiliency

Silverman et al. 2018 map.sagegrouseinitiative.com

Water Surface Extent

Volk et al. in review

Ground Water Monitoring

Volk et al. in review

Untreated site

Treated site

Groundwater Elevation

Volk et al. in review

Volk et al. in review

Groundwater Elevation

Groundwater and Surface water Temperature

Volk et al. in review

Untreated site Treated site

CHANNEL TEMPERATURE HETEROGENEITY

Stream Temperature Monitoring

Surface Water Temperature

Weber et al., 2017 Before After

Take Home Message

• Beaver dams (natural, BDA) result in floodplain connectivity

• Floodplain connectivity results in riparian vegetation changes

• Floodplain connectivity results in groundwater – surface water interaction

• Groundwater – surface water interaction results in changes in water temperature in both surface and subsurface realm

LONG TEMPERATURE PROFILE

August 2014