Ecological Risk Assessment Riparian Zone and Access Road Jericho Research Forest Jericho, VT

Kristin Elsmore, Luke Emerson-Mason, Meredith Curling, Jason Weiner, Pearson McCracken

Background

In a Riparian zone is where two environments meet.

There we find some of the most productive and biologically diverse environments on the planet. Riparian zones are often subject to high degrees of vulnerability in a landscape due to a variety of anthropogenic and natural stressors. Our risk assessment focused on a riparian zone located in the Jericho Research Forest.

Background Continued

UVM acquired the land in Jericho in 1940 which had previously been agriculture land.

At this point the process of reforestation began with the intention to bring back the natural environment of northern Vermont. Today our focus stream has a large buffer except for where an old logging road is in close proximity.

Our intention was to provide an understanding of the potential risks to the stream in regards to the nearby road, as well as those involved with the future restoration project

Problem

The stream is being disrupted from a constructed road that’s producing runoff, erosion, sediment deposition in the stream.

Key Objectives

• Obtain information regarding potential management alternatives and relevant data available on the site from risk managers and any other stakeholders by March 1, 2006.

• Develop best management practices based on our analysis of the situation by April 12, 2006 • Complete the construction of conceptual models, potential risk model, and summarization of assessment results (for the finalized assessment report that will be presented to managers and stakeholders) by April 18, 2006

Findings

Soil Types

• Adams and Windsor Loamy Sands • Moderately – Highly Erodible • 12-30% Slope

Erosion

• Erosion from unpaved roads causes Sedimentation • Gravel Roads yield 99% more sediment quantity in runoff than paved roads • Erosion from logging roads can be 220% greater than erosion from undisturbed sites

Altered Hydrology

• “When a road bed is raised above the surrounding land surface, it will alter surface sheet flow patterns, restricting the amount of water reaching downstream areas” – Noss 2000 • Sedimentation

Lane’s Diagram

Current Efforts

• A new logging road has been constructed farther than the recommended 70 ft from the stream • Old road unused but unforested – at some points comes within 20 feet of stream

GIS Analysis

•Watershed Approach?

•No Mapped Watershed, No Mapped Stream Data available.

Approach

• Use of Bare Earth LIDAR Data.

• ArcMap 9.1 Hydrology Tools, used to Map out streams and Watershed.

• Quality control with Comparison of Output and Vermont Hydrography Dataset.

• Analysis in ArcMap

Data Outputs

• Watershed boundaries for Stream of Interest as well as neighboring stream.

Outputs Cont.

• Why is it important to map out watershed?

• Provides holistic approach to understanding what is influencing the stream.

• Can decide what areas may be of greater importance to focus on.

• Used in Further and possible Future analysis.

Outputs Cont.

• Slope Layer generated.

Output Cont.

• Slope Over 12%

Outputs cont.

• Slope information: Important especially with respect to measuring erosion. Greater Slope= Greater erosion potential • High Slopes usually said to be 12% or greater.

• Slope important for compliance with Vermont Logging road Best Management Practices.

Conceptual Model

Concept Model (cont.)

• Current Capabilities – As it stands right now the concept model is only a visual representation of how we believe the variables in and around the logging road interact. • Possible Capabilities – With considerable modifications the conceptual model could be helpful in determining the trends of the area and could also be linked with GIS maps for data and testing purposes.

Recommendations

• Use of maps and contributed data layers to pinpoint areas of concern.

• Including high slope areas, especially those close to the streams, and highly incised areas.

• Use of over all slope data to assure bmp for logging road in place.

• GPS old and new logging road for future analysis.

Our Recommendations

• Urge managers to consider re-forestation of the road as soon as possible • Re-forestation efforts should focus on mirroring conditions of the surrounding forest through the use of local root stock • Look to published reports on similar restoration efforts in and around VT for additional ideas, particularly those matching budgetary constraints

Our Recommendations Cont.

• To ensure management strategies are working, water quality monitoring should occur during key periods and continue until re-forestation is well underway • Monitoring should focus on incision of stream banks, deposition of sediments, stream bank erosion, turbidity, and flow rates, particularly in critical areas indicated on GIS maps.

Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation Recommendations

• The handbook for

Acceptable Management Practices for Maintaining Water Quality on Logging Jobs in VT

recommends that areas of exposed soil within 25 ft of streams be seeded and mulched with 20 lbs/acre of rye grass, and 60 lbs/acre of hay. • The handbook also recommends that the riparian buffer on a 12-20% slope between roads and streams equal 70 ft

Conclusions

• If left unmanaged the existing logging road may potentially lead to adverse effects on the adjacent aquatic system.

• Simply re-seeding the road would only be a “quick fix” and may be challenging due to soil compaction • Parameters that are of particular interest for monitoring purposes include incision of stream banks, deposition of sediments, stream bank erosion, turbidity, and flow rates. • With the new logging road located far enough away to provide an adequate buffer to the stream, restoration of the old logging road should significantly reduce the risks posed.

Thank You

Jesse Mohr Kristen Simard Breck Bowden Deb Perry David Brynn