Watershed Analysis Various Clients
Participated in many watershed analysis projects, including the Mashel, Panakanic, Gold Fork, Ohop, Tanwax, Powell, and Palix. Also implemented prescriptions associated with the Kosmos, EF Tilton, WF Satsop, Connolly, and others. Experience in channels, mass wasting, riparian, hydrology, and surface erosion methods specific to watershed analysis. Particularly strong at synthesizing the information from various modules into a coherent management framework. Used watershed analysis tools and products to develop monitoring and adaptive management systems. Walker River Steering Committee Walker River Irrigation District Working with a broad group of stakeholders, the Steering Committee is charged with developing restoration projects that are designed to increase water delivery to Walker Lake. As one of the largest terminal lakes in the United States, Walker Lake has been rapidly declining over the last 150 years, and is now a threatened ecosystem. The complex hydrologic and land-use requirements in this watershed make such an effort a major challenge. Contra Costa Hydromodification Contra Costa County Developed a methodology for evaluation the potential hydrologic modification impacts associated with land development activities. Our method is being adopted by Contra Costa County to establish guidelines for land development that meet water quality and sustainability criteria. Our method integrates a simple channel typing screen with simple field measurements to identify those sites requiring more detailed analysis. The protocol resulted in an effective stream stability rating using 4 easily collected field channel measures. Hillslope Hydrology Studies Champion Pacific Timberlands Developed extensive literature reviews and onsite research into the role of timber harvest and roading on hillslope hydrology processes, including subsurface and surface runoff impacts. Stream Gage Monitoring Various Clients Established automated gage systems on streams, wetlands, and floodplain environments. Performed numerous surveys to support data collection efforts, including hydrologic investigations, water quality and fish habitat. Channel Migration Zone Delineation Various Clients Conducted site-based and photo-based delineations of channel migration zones along several reaches of the Puyallup, Hoh, Mowich, Tolt, Snoqualmie, Cispus, Cowlitz, White, Carbon & Queets Rivers. Conducted numerous evaluations along smaller streams. Provided technical content and review for the Washington State Forest Practice Board Manual on channel migration delineation. Regional Landslide Inventory Weyerhaeuser Company Integrated a large spatial database of landslide information for over 1.1 Million acres of company lands in Washington State. Data was provided by various watershed analysis methods, using different standards and protocols. Integrated the data using common protocols and spatial map integration procedures. Data was compiled and analyzed within a GIS framework. Watershed-Scale Hydrological Modeling Various Clients Modeled hydrologic response for numerous watersheds in association with forest resource management planning, road erosion studies, perennial flow initiation studies and various engineering applications. Model results were used to assess design impacts from peak flow runoff, rain-on-snow, baseflow, flow routing, duration analysis, flood frequency assessments and others. Geomorphic modeling experience includes slope stability, road erosion, landscape evolution, channel condition, riparian/channel dynamics, wood recruitment and others. Familiar with numerous models including HEC-1, NFF, Rational, TR-55, HSPF, WMS, DHSVM and others. Stream Temperature Monitoring Program Champion Pacific Timberlands Managed a stream temperature monitoring program in a managed forest landscape. Results were used for compliance and effectiveness monitoring, and were used to test several management hypotheses. Data supported numerous policy negotiations and management planning processes. Water Typing Survey Program Champion Pacific Timberlands Managed survey crews that collected stream characteristic and fish use data for over 200 miles of stream in western Washington. Data used to inform timberland operations and support a stream typing model that identified probabilities for fish use based on several landscape factors. Riparian Zone Effectiveness Study Kapowsin Tree Farm Evaluated 20 riparian management zone buffers following timber harvest to determine short-term and long-term impacts on key aquatic variables. Results indicated that long-held assumptions about treefall direction from riparian forests do not apply to riparian buffers. These results have significant implications for wood recruitment modeling and riparian buffer design. Sediment Supply Studies Pacific Northwest and California Regions Evaluated sediment supply from various watershed management practices, including agricultural, hydro-electric, and forestry operations. Developed protocols and methods used for state-wide adaptive management and monitoring systems, and for local operational management. Evaluated sediment supply from road systems, forest harvest, cumulative sediment supply, landslide inventories, and sediment budgets. Integrated watershed-scale sediment supply evaluations with in-channel assessments to determine effects on channel morphology, transport capacity, aquatic habitat, and riparian functions. Big Creek Road Project Southern California Edison Inventoried project roads for a FERC relicense applicatant in the Big Creek Hydropower project area. Developed semi-quantitative rating of sediment production from roads, and delivery ratings to streams. Captured data in real-time GIS/GPS system that provided the client with a database of culverts and sediment sources for use in operational management of the road network. Wetland Identification Handbook Boise Cascade Developed a Wetland Identification Handbook: A Guide for Pacific Northwest Forestlands for Boise Cascade Corporation for use throughout their operating region in Washington, Idaho and Oregon. Described primary wetland types, outlined classification methods, and described characteristic communities for wetland identification, including obligate and facultive species specific to various ecotones within the Pacific Northwest Region. Perennial Flow Initiation Studies Washington State Department of Natural Resources Conducted studies in Pierce, Lewis and Klickitat Counties, and co-chaired a larger state-wide study to improve identification of the location where perennial flows begin in forested headwaters to support regulatory requirements and guide policy decisions. Provided data and guidance to economic models. Developed implications for adaptive management policies and impacts to land-use management constraints. Headwater Geomorphology Studies Champion Pacific Timberlands Conducted research on nearly 1000 stream reach sites to evaluate trends in characteristics for managed headwater streams. Integrated these results with studies addressing biological needs for headwater amphibians to develop management standards and strategies for protecting key ecosystem functions and processes. Presented results at conferences in Washington, Oregon and British Columbia. Riparian Large Woody Debris Recruitment Models Various Clients Pacific Northwest Developed large woody debris recruitment models to guide riparian management practices and policies in forested environments. Implemented the model over numerous timber harvest locations and long-term harvest planning. The model provided short-term and long-term estimates of recruitment and residual riparian stand composition by integrating calibrated data with regionally based estimates and local geometry of the site. Stream Temperature Workshop Timber Fish & Wildlife Cooperative Facilitated a contentious workshop to resolve stream temperature monitoring and modeling guidelines associated with forest management policies. Over 50 scientists from the timber industry, government agencies, tribal governments, and environmental advocates attended this two-day event. The outcome identified a broad consensus for monitoring and research activities that would support a rigorous adaptive management framework. |