site restoration mormon mesa
TRANSCRIPT
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M O R M O N M E S A C A S E S T U D Y
SITE-SCALE RESTORATION PLANNING ON THE LOWER VIRGIN
RIVER, NEVADA
B. Orr, T. Dudley, E. Bickmore, R. Vaghini, A. Lambert, G. Leverich
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CLARK COUNTY VIRGIN RIVER RESERVE UNIT 1
• Goal: Develop a restoration plan to enhance and expand existing habitat for the SWFL and other MSHCP covered riparian birds
• 80 acre parcel • Existing Vegetation: Dense Tamarisk, scattered Goodding’s
willow and a few other natives
Insert map of property
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Project Partners
• Clark County Desert Conservation Program
• Great Basin Institute • Partners in Conservation • Stillwater Sciences • UC Santa Barbara • Walton Family Foundation
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VIRGIN RIVER
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CONCLUSIONS FROM PHASE 1 ASSESSMENT
• Hydro-geomorphology: Virgin River is an episodic system prone to large, channel-resetting floods
• Vegetation: tamarisk dominated in lower river and greater riparian diversity in upper river – but vegetation will change with defoliation and mortality from leaf beetle
• Potential Active Restoration Sites: • Lower River = 3,480 acres—expansive with greater continuity,
co-occurrence with SWFL, opportunities on public lands • Upper River = 665 acres—smaller, isolated areas
• Phase 2: plan and implement site-specific restoration projects
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VIRGIN RIVER STUDY AREA: MORMON MESA REACH
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Potential Restoration Sites along the Lower
River 3,480 acres
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Recently Occupied SWFL
habitat
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Recently Occupied SWFL
habitat
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PHASE 2: REFINE PRIORITY AREAS FOR ACTIVE RESTORATION
Flood Reset Zone (>33% frequency)
Vegetation Types (% native vs tamarisk)
Phase 1: Potential Restoration Areas
Phase 2: Refinement Using Reach- and Site-scale Data
Soils Depth to Groundwater (Relative Elevation) Vegetation Structure SWFL Habitat
+
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CLARK COUNTY VIRGIN RIVER UNIT 1 INITIAL PHASE
Ecohydrological Assessment
• Reach- and site-scale assessment
• Relative elevation mapping • Vegetation canopy height • GIS analysis for identification
of restoration zones, priorities and strategies
• Field surveys • Vegetation mapping • Surface water and soil
assessment
Site Restoration Plan
• Botanical inventory • Map of planting zones • Recommendations for each
restoration zone • Plant mix – species, density, • Restoration methods, source
material • Plant requirements –
tolerances for salinity, shade, water
• Cattle exclusion • Weed management
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CLARK COUNTY VIRGIN RIVER UNIT 1 INITIAL PHASE
Ecohydrological Assessment
• Reach- and site-scale assessment
• Relative elevation mapping • Vegetation canopy height • GIS analysis for identification
of restoration zones, priorities and strategies
• Field surveys • Vegetation mapping • Surface water and soil
assessment
Site Restoration Plan
• Botanical inventory • Map of planting zones • Recommendations for each
restoration zone • Plant mix – species, density, • Restoration methods, source
material • Plant requirements –
tolerances for salinity, shade, water
• Cattle exclusion • Weed management
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Virgin Valley: Mormon Mesa Reach
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Active Channel Frequency: Flood
Reset Zone
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Phase 1 Potential Restoration Areas
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Recently Occupied SWFL Habitat
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RELATIVE ELEVATION
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VEGETATION CANOPY HEIGHT
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RESTORATION PRIORITY AREAS
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Restoration Potential
High
Medium
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Restoration Potential
High
Medium
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SITE RESTORATION PLAN
Ecohydrological Assessment
• Reach- and site-scale assessment
• Relative elevation mapping • Vegetation canopy height • GIS analysis for identification
of restoration zones, priorities and strategies
• Field surveys • Vegetation mapping • Surface water and soil
assessment
Site Restoration Plan
• Botanical inventory • Map of planting zones • Recommendations for each
restoration zone • Plant mix – species, density, • Restoration methods, source
material • Plant requirements –
tolerances for salinity, shade, water
• Cattle exclusion • Weed management
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SITE RESTORATION PLAN
Ecohydrological Assessment
• Reach- and site-scale assessment
• Relative elevation mapping • Vegetation canopy height • GIS analysis for identification
of restoration zones, priorities and strategies
• Field surveys • Vegetation mapping • Surface water and soil
assessment
Site Restoration Plan
• Botanical inventory • Map of planting zones • Recommendations for each
restoration zone • Plant mix – species, density, • Restoration methods, source
material • Plant requirements –
tolerances for salinity, shade, water
• Cattle exclusion • Weed management
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EXISTING CONDITIONS
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SITE SURVEYS
• September 2013 - UCSB Field Surveys • Vegetation composition and structure • Surface water and soil moisture • Soil texture, salinity, and pH • Site access routes • Field validation of remote sensing/GIS data
• October 2013 – GBI Field Reconnaissance • Refine site access and other logistics • Refine site plan for 2013/2014 priority areas • Set priorities for initial tamarisk clearing and treatment
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FLOODPLAIN RELATIVE ELEVATION
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SURFACE & SHALLOW GROUNDWATER
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VEGETATION MANAGEMENT UNITS
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CHALLENGE: HOW TO KEEP OUT CATTLE?
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BUILD A WALL OF TAMARISK!
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INITIAL PLANTING AREAS
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PATCH D: OCTOBER 2013
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PATCH F: 13 FEB 2014
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PATCH G: 13 FEB 2014
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IMPLEMENTATION OF PLANTING PLAN
Revegetation Initial Phase (in progress) • Winter/Spring 2014 • Collect and plant willow
and cottonwood poles and cuttings
• Plant native understory species
• Install fencing • Weed control • Monitoring, experimental
plantings, and adaptive learning for later phases
Cleared and Treated Tamarisk (completed) • Path to 7 locations • 6 planting areas • Created cattle
exclusion • Oct 2013 - Jan 2014 • Great Basin Institute • Walton Family
Foundation
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FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION... Bruce Orr [email protected] Tom Dudley [email protected] Liz Bickmore [email protected]
Stillwater Sciences Website www.stillwatersci.com
Virgin River Science Team http://rivrlab.msi.ucsb.edu/VR_data/virginriver.php
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EXTRA SLIDES
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30 Control Plots (>60% Tamarisk cover) 35 Treatment Plots (<5% Tamarisk cover) • Each plot 6.25 ha
STUDY DESIGN:
Propagule Islands Restoration Strategy Restoration Islands
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RESTORATION PRIORITY AREAS
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INITIAL PLANTING AREAS