Routine Effectiveness Evaluations Port Alberni District (TFL 44)

Objective The project objective was to conduct routine effectiveness evaluations (REE) at 14 instream restoration sites in Sarita River, 36 sites in South Sarita River, 80 sites in Sabrina Creek and nine sites in Hunter Creek located within TFL 44. In addition, REEs were conducted at six off-channel sites in the Sarita, Klanawa, Clemens and Taylor watersheds. FIA Investment Schedule: COTFL446225 Project Number: 6225016 Fiscal Year: 2003/04 Recipient: Weyerhaeuser Region: Port Alberni Authors Bruce Murray MSc Marc Gaboury MSc RPBio LGL Limited 9768 Second Street Sidney, BC V8L 3Y8 Tel: (250) 656-0127 Fax: (250) 655-4761 E-mail: bmurray@lgl.com mgaboury@lgl.com Watershed / Stream Sarita River, Clemens Creek, Klanawa River, Taylor River Location All the watersheds are located on Vancouver Island east of Port Alberni and within TFL 44. The project areas can be accessed via PTH 4, branch roads off the Bamfield Road and by water taxi to Henderson Lake. Introduction Instream restoration structures were constructed in the Sarita River watershed (Huu-ay-aht First Nation 2000, Ochman 2002) and off-channel habitat was constructed in Sarita, Klanawa, Taylor (Wright and Associates 1999a&b) and Clemens (Guimond 1999) watersheds. The objectives of these projects were to:

• enhance juvenile rearing habitat for coho and steelhead in the Sarita watershed by increasing instream habitat complexity,

• enhance spawning and juvenile rearing primarily for coho by establishing off-channel habitat, and

• enhance sockeye adult holding, spawning and juvenile rearing capacity by improving off-channel habitat in Clemens Creek.

Performance Summary

A total of 138 structures in the Sarita watershed were evaluated for physical and biological performance. Across all structures, the pooled mean physical performance objective was 3.1 ± 0.964, whereas the mean biological performance objective was 3.0 ± 0.908. The 138 structures represent five structure categories as follows: revetments (LWD-R, n = 27), lateral jams (LWD-M, n = 81), deflectors (LWD-D, n = 9), riffles (RIFF, n = 4), and single log structure (LWD-1, n = 17). It is interesting to note that single log structures were out performed by lateral jams, deflectors and revetments. A total of six ground water fed channels were evaluated for physical and biological performance. Across all structures, the pooled mean physical performance objective was 3.0 ± 0.577, whereas the mean biological performance objective was 3.286 ± 0.488. Conclusions Based on the results of the REE, all off-channel projects examined appear to be relatively stable and functioning as anticipated or exceeding expectations. The only exception that should receive attention is the alcove pond located at designation M9, Taylor River groundwater channel. During 1999, this pond and connecting channel both were extensively used for rearing and exceeded all expectations for spawning

(M.C. Wright and Associates 2000). However subsequent flooding of the Taylor River has partially infilled this pond and diminished spawning and rearing activity in the pond and connecting channel but not in the groundwater channel proper. Unrelated to this, the three Taylor River channels are continuing to experience sporadic siltation problems; however, these channels were utilized by spawning sockeye during our 2 November 2003 inspection. Redds as well as spawning activity were particularly evident contiguous to woody debris structures in all three channels. Most instream structures appear to be meeting or exceeding physical objectives. Whether this trend continues can only be ascertained through extension of the monitoring process. Cost Summary Fees $7,300 Expenses $1,200 Total $8,500

Photo 1. Downstream view of log structure at

0+373 m Sabrina Creek Reach 37. Pool scour to 1.3 m deep.

Photo 2. Downstream view from 0+061m

(Photo Station #1) Taylor River relic groundwater channel extension.

References Huu-ay-aht First Nation. 2000. Sarita River

Watershed Restoration Program As-built Report 1999. Report prepared by Huu-ay-aht First Nation, Bamfield, BC for British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, and Weyerhaeuser Limited, West Island Woodlands Division, Port Alberni, BC.

Guimond E. 1999. Henderson Lake Watershed Restoration Project: As-built Report for 1998/99 Activities in the Clemens Creek Groundwater Channel. Report submitted to Uchucklesaht Band Council for Forest Renewal BC, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Nanaimo, BC.

M.C. Wright and Associates. 1999a. Groundwater Channel Lower Taylor River As-built Construction Report 1999. Report prepared for Forest Renewal BC, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Nanaimo, BC and MacMillan Bloedel Ltd.

M.C. Wright and Associates. 1999b. Relic Channel Extension Lower Taylor River As-built Construction Report 1999. Report prepared for Forest Renewal BC, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Nanaimo, BC and MacMillan Bloedel Ltd.

Ochman S. 2002. Sarita River Watershed: Fish Habitat Restoration As-built and Monitoring Report for 2000 and 2001. Report prepared by Huu-Ay-Aht First Nation for BC Ministry of Water, Air and Land Protection, Nanaimo, BC and Weyerhaeuser Limited, West Island Timberlands, Franklin Operation, Port Alberni, BC.