.

Stream Restoration

    The Genesee Headwaters Watershed Association was created in July 2003.  It is dedicated to keeping the Genesee watershed healthy by promoting and monitoring the proper use of the land and streams of this part of our county.

    In the three years of its existence the association has completed the necessary organizational paperwork to qualify as a non-profit 501C3 entity, held numerous training sessions, placed several water depth meters on bridge abutments, purchased 10 rain gauges now being read with data recorded by local residents, completed a comprehensive assessment of the watershed, installed stream crossing signs and major highway "Welcome to the Genesee Headwater Watershed" signs, held annual Clean Your Stream Days, held watershed tours for the public, obtained two dike repairs from the Army Corps of Engineers, and completed several stream bank projects, one of which (the Hickox project), I'll discuss in detail.  The Association publishes a periodic newsletter (PO Box 145, Genesee, Pa. 16923).

    Current officers are Steven Richard, president, Walt Franklin, vice president, Dawn Richards, secretary, and Rita Vallieres, treasurer.  The association meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at the Genesee Bank at 7:00 p.m. President Richard can be reached at 585-610-0166.

    President Richard was quick to explain to me in a recent interview that the association is deeply indebted to the Potter County Conservation District for their assistance in navigating the many pitfalls inherent in dealing with the many government agencies involved in environmental issues.  He especially credited Jack Fleckenstein, watershed specialist, who helped them "cut through the beaurocracy to get the job done."

    My own research this past week confirms this issue.  In less than a day I was able to put together a list of over 100 agencies, commissions, associations, foundations, academic institutes, for-profit firms and other groups with on-going programs dealing with water-related environmental issues.  I'm sure the list could easily be expanded to over 500. (Space does not permit me to list them here, but I have included them on my website).

    For a simple fisherman, this sort of activity or institutionalization comes as somewhat of a bombshell.  I remember the days in my youth when each Spring the town fathers would hire a bulldozer to "clean out the Allegheny River" flowing at my back door on Allegheny Avenue.  Today they might end up in Leavenworth for doing such a thing!  And, of course, every day we see the results of the Corps of Engineers style thinking of the 50's in the concrete channel that, while effective, nevertheless left a permanent scar on our community.  If I had a nickel for every time I've attempted to make some sense of the channel to visiting tourists I could buy a new fly line.

The Hickox Project

    The site is located on Dick Cornell's property and when the initial geomorphic assessment was done soon after the association was formed it was highlighted as one of the ten worst sources of erosion in the watershed.  The problem was the result of a former channel straightening to accommodate the old railroad, now abandoned.  Rails and ties were falling into the Genesee and major erosion was eating away the backyard of a home on the opposite side (see photo).

    With the counseling of the PCCD, the association realized that the scope of the work needed at the Hickox site was beyond their ability.  In 2005, at the suggestion of the Department of Environmental Protection, they applied for and received a grant of $124,900 from the Great Lakes Commission's Great Lakes Basin Program.  Remember from last week - the Genesee flows into Lake Ontario!

    Ten stream restoration firms were invited to present proposals for the Hickox project.  Rivers Unlimited, Inc., Steamboat Springs, CO owned by Casey Clapsaddle, was the winning bidder.  The Clapsaddle firm also did the initial assessment of the watershed.  When asked why the association picked Rivers Unlimited, President Richard said  "Casey Clapsaddle had a "passionate interest in the work, in addition to his technical expertise."

    It might be a good idea, before getting into the details of this project, to make sure what we're talking about when we discuss stream restoration.  There is a notion, held by some, that a "stream restoration" will return the stream to its original state.  There are still some starry-eyed fisherman, conservationists, and activists who think that when done, a stream project will reveal the stream in all of its pre-colonial or pre-settlement glory, that it will abound with trout, that one can wander through the resulting hushed stream corridor like the red men of Pre-Columbus America.

    Nonsense, utter nonsense.   First of all, there is no dependable way to even know what the "original state" was.  There are no photos, no accurate drawings, no scientifically  written accounts, no surveys (scientific or otherwise) to tell us what it really was like.  A lot of folklore, legend and mythology, but nothing for today's requirements.  I doubt that there are more than a small handful of virgin, absolutely un-touched-by-man's-hand, sites in the whole of the entire United States.  Those that might exist are isolated and divorced from their original ecological system; they are best thought of as relics of the past, not as models for our future.

    Here in Potter County, for example, the forest we see now didn't exist 150 years ago.  Our original forest was coniferous (white pine and hemlock primarily). I can direct you to a half dozen white pine trees in the Allegheny Watershed that I believe may have been part of that original forest.  They stand forlorn midst a stand of beech, oak and cherry.  Better to visit Cook State Forest.  Here you can see on a larger scale approximately what our settlers saw when they punched their way into this county.

When cut (yes, the entire forest for all practical purposes), it returned as a hardwood forest, with its own unique ecological system.  To return the streams of this county to their "original state" would require another massive clear cut, the planting of millions of pine and hemlock seedlings and a wait of another 100 years.  And no guarantee that it would work. Any volunteers?

    Second, stream restoration has been going on for many years.  It is not a brand new idea.  Many years ago I came across detailed information in a best-selling fisherman's book published in 1955 based on work done in Wisconsin in the years just prior to WWII.**  And in the course of fifty years of fishing I've fished through and around many structures and other enhancements meant to restore the stream.

    Third, historically it has been the fishermen who have been in the vanguard of stream restoration and other water-related environmental efforts. Our very own Pete Ryan, President of Gods Country Chapter of Trout Unlimited, has been recognized by various organizations as the driving force to get the State of Pennsylvania to recognize the sediment problems resulting from poorly maintained and designed dirt and gravel roads.  Thanks largely to Pete's work, Penn State University established a research center in 2001 specifically to study the issues.

    Now, apparently, the politicians have jumped on the band wagon.  When votes are at stake, funds become available.  Consequently, the glut of grant-giving organizations.  And organizations that specialize in sorting out the "players" so that down-home groups like the GHWA know how and when to proceed.  In other words, another functional industry with lobbyists, specialists, advisors... the works.

Hickox Project - before



The  project site at Hickox, Pa. (old railroad grade) before restoration.  Note badly eroded stream bank, old rails fallen into the stream, up rooted trees about ready to collapse. (Photo courtesy of Potter County Conservation District)

    Work on the Hickox project included large rock diversions, stream bank protection, creation of a flood plain, bank grading and extensive seeding and tree planting to create a buffered bank area.  It was completed in 2006.  It took 11 consecutive 12-hour days by the contractor, Gleim Environmental, Inc., Carlisle, Pa.  Clean-up, grass watering and monitoring aquatic life at the site is being done by GHWA volunteers.  Dick Cornell, fisherman, has no objection to visitors to his property to see the results.

Hickox Project - after



Hickox Project after restoration.  Note direction of current, the first of four rock vanes, some of the tree root wads, new grass already rooted in the coconut matting.  Photo by author -September 8, 2006


    After I visited the site myself, I talked with Casey Clapsaddle, whose firm did the design work.  When I outlined my limited knowledge of stream restoration, including a reference to that old book (which he had never heard of) and pointed out that both Dick Cornell and I had had the same initial reaction to the placement of the rock vanes, i.e., that "we thought the vanes were placed backwards", he explained that his firm uses the latest technology in designing such projects.  He also explained that he is a student of the Rosgen approach to stream improvement.

    When I had asked Dick during my visit to the site if the project seemed to be working well, he said he had observed it during some high water and everything seemed to be fine.  However, we haven't had any really high, flood stage water yet.

    Because the design seemed to me to be so unusual, I did some research on Rosgen. David L. Rosgen, PhD, is a Registered Professional Hydrologist and principal hydrologist of Wildland Hydrology Consultants. He has 42 years of experience in stream morphology, restoration, sedimentology, stream classification development and applications, grazing and riparian systems management, cumulative water resource impact assessment and modeling, fish habitat enhancement, and conducts research in river studies.  He designs, supervises, contracts and monitors a variety of large scale river restoration projects throughout the United States. Dave conducts short courses throughout North America for government agency personnel, universities, and consulting firms in river morphology, restoration, and Wildland hydrology.  Dave is the author of the book "Applied River Morphology", published in 1996.

    Very impressive, but it turns out that there are not a few critics of his work, and I uncovered at lot of uneasiness in the academic world about his methodology.  Furthermore, if you want to get a "certificate" in Watershed Management Training you can log onto an EPA Sponsored website and take the Rosgen course on the honor system.  I include but one of many critical comments I uncovered:

    "Although some of us may think that Rosgen is a bumbling fool whose national standing gives him the power to do tremendous damage across the country, his national standing gives him the defense he needs. A lawsuit filed against him would be tremendously expensive and likely ineffective, because the man's the darling of the politically correct.   He'd marshall legions of fish biologists, hydrologists, environmental "experts" and environmental advocates."
                    Alternative Stream Research (http://www.tostreams.org/)

    My view?  Time will tell.  Should we have another 100-year event such as 1942 or 1972, or even the lesser events of the late 40's and early 50's or even the massive overnight melt and run off of January 1996 I have my doubts that the project will survive.  But then again, what restoration project will? For normal high, not flood-stage, events it should function just fine.  And it is clearly an improvement.

 "In Nature's infinite book of secrecy a little I can read."
...William Shakespeare


Further Reading -

** How to Fish from Top to Bottom, Sid Gordon, Stackpole Press, Harrisburg, Pa (1955), recently re-issued.

PRO ROSGEN:
Rosgen, D.L. and H.L. Silvey. 1996. Applied River Morphology. Wildland Hydrology Books, Fort Collins, CO

Rosgen's course registration website. - (http://www.widlandhydrology.com/html/courses.htm)

Clapsaddle-Garber Associates (http://www.cgaconsultants.com/)

Watershed Academy Web (http://www.epa.gov/watertrain/)  - EPA Sponsored online "certificate" program for watershed managers, local officials, involved citizens, decision makers, and others.

The Science of Watershed Hydrology (http://www.watershedhydrology.com/)

CON ROSGEN:

Artificial Stream Restoration: Money Well Spent Or An Expensive Failure?  Universities Council on Water Resources, UCOWR 1994 Annual Meeting, August 2-5, 1994 http://www.stream.fs.fed.us/news/streamnt/oct95/oct95a1.htm

EVALUATION OF STREAM IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS 1930-1970 Geologic Society of America, Northeastern Section (39th Annual) and Southeastern Section (53rd Annual) Joint Meeting (March 25-27, 2004)
http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2004NE/finalprogram/abstract_68760.htm

GEOMORPHIC PROBLEMS WITH IN-STREAM STRUCTURES USING NATURAL CHANNEL DESIGN STRATEGY FOR STREAM RESTORATION PROJECTS IN NORTH CAROLINA
Geologic Society of America, 2005 Salt Lake City Annual Meeting (October 16-19, 2005)
http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2005AM/finalprogram/abstract_92829.htm

GENERAL
Wild Fish Habitat Initiative (http://wildfish.montana.edu/Cases/instream.asp)

Stream Restoration Links (http://esudduth.myweb.uga.edu/generallinks.html)

Follow Up Visit, November 7, 2006

    On this date I re-visited the Hickox Project to see what, if any, damage the high water of the weekend of October 21 might have done.  This was the highest water event of the year, probably on the order of a 20 to 25 year-event.  The rock vanes were still intact and I could see no serious erosion or scouring of the banks.  The only obvious damage was to the willow seedlings, but I'm certain that these had been cropped by deer.  It would appear that this was a successful undertaking, and will probably be able to handle the test of time, especially when the sod cover cover becomes fully established.

Additional Photos of Hickox Project
                              Detail of rock vane                                                            Looking downstream






Wing deflector drawing shown on page 339, How to Fish from Top to Bottom, by Sid W. Gordon, Stackpole Press (1955).  "The upper section, the deflector log, is most effective at an angle of 45 degrees with the current. One should build and stake the deflector log before attempting to fit the director log.  The principal purpose of the director log is to catch the thrust of water from the deflector log to create digging power and a backwash which deposits the sand behind the structure. No one should attempt to judge the placing of the director log until after the deflector log is completed!"

NOTE DIRECTION OF CURRENT









EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION CONTROL
CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
Hickox, Pa. Project

Detail reproduced from drawing furnished by:
Rivers Unlimited,Inc.
PO Box 775685
Steamboat Springs, CO 80477

Selected List of Agencies and Other Organizations Involved with Stream Restoration
LOCAL
Allegheny  Watershed Association
Genesee  Watershed Association
Potter County Conservation District

STATE
PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
Pennsylvania Game Commission

WATERSHED ASSOCIATIONS IN PA
Allegheny Watershed Network
Brandywine Valley
Chester Ridley Crum Watersheds Association
Darby Creek Valley Association
EPA Watershed Protection Programs
Fishing Creek Watershed Association
Franklin County Watershed Association
French Creek Project
GreenWorks Environmental Fund for PA
Kettle Creek Watershed Association
PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers
PA Rural Water Association
Penns Creek Watershed
Powell's & Armstrong Creeks Watershed Assoc.
Red Clay Creek Watershed Associations
Reed and Strattanville Mine Reclamation Projects
The Clearwater Conservancy
The Schuylkill River
The Watershed Management Council
We All Live Downstream--Watershed Protection Programs

FEDERAL
Bureau of Land Management
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)
Department of Defense
Environmental Protection Agency
Interagency Stream Restoration Working Group (FISRWG)(15 Federal agencies US Government)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Park Service
Pasture System and Watershed Management Research Laboratory
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS)
U.S. Geological Survey
United States Department of Interior
US Corps of Engineers
USDA Farm Service Agency
USDA Forest Service
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
USDA Soil Conservation Service
USDA Stream Systems Technology Center

NON-PROFIT (NGO's)
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
American Fisheries Society
American Forest Foundation
American Institute of Hydrology
American Water Resources Association
Audubon Society
Canaan Valley Institute
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Cold Water Heritage Partnership
Delaware Estuary Program
Delaware River Basin Commission
Delaware River Watershed Consortium
Ducks Unlimited
Federation of Fly Fishers
Fish America Foundation
Great Lakes Basin Program
National Association of Conservation Districts
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
National Park Foundation
North Central PA Conservancy
Northeast Pennsylvania Conservancy
Northwest Pennsylvania Duck Hunters
Pheasants Forever
Rivers Unlimited (www.riversunlimited.org)
Ruffed Grouse Society
Soil and Water Conservation Society
Susquehanna River Basin Commission
The Keystone Stream Team
The Nature Conservancy
The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
Trout Unlimited
Waterfowl U.S.A.

FOR PROFIT
Acer Environmental, Inc
Appalachian Environmental Services
Aquatic Resources Restoration, Inc.
Balke American
Buck Engineering
Environmental Services, Inc.
Gleim Environment Group
Invisible Streams
Jordan, Jones & Goulding, Inc"KCI Technologies, Inc
Larson Design Group
National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Inc.
Peter E. Black (www.watershedhydrology.com/)
Register-Nelson, Inc
Rivers Unlimited, Inc.
Robert J. Goldstein & Associates, Inc.
Skelly & Loy, Inc.
Stevens Water Monitoring Systems, Inc.
Trout Headwaters, Inc
Water's Edge Hydrology, Inc.
Wetlands Habitat Management, Inc
Wildland Hydrology (David L. Rosgen)

ACADEMIC
Allegheny College: French Creek Watershed Research Program
California University of Pennsylvania: Farmland Habitat Program
Edinboro University
Lycoming College: Clean Water Institute
Pennsylvania State University:Center for Dirt & Gravel Road Studies
Pennsylvania State University:Center for Watershed Stewardship
University of Montana: Wildfish Habitat Institute
University of Pittsburgh


Copyright September 20, 2006 Thomas P. Dewey