Aquatic Organism Passage at Road-Stream Crossings
Alan Yamada, Program Leader
Kim Clarkin , Project Leader
June 28, 2002
Barrier Inventory Protocol
Status: posted for review.
A working draft of the summer 2002 field procedure for identifying road-stream crossings that are barriers to aquatic organisms is posted on this website, and the protocol is being used in the USFS Northern and Eastern regions. Mark Hudy, eastern regions aquatic ecologist, is using it in combination with aquatic community sampling at passable and impassable crossings to determine whether barriers affect aquatic communities. Mark intends to take a first cut at developing recommendations for regional coarse screens for groups of fish (eg. salmonids, benthic feeders, cyprinids, etc). The screens use field-observable criteria to determine whether a crossing is or is not passable, or if further analysis is needed.
In early May Bob Gubernick, from the Tongass NF, gave a "train the trainers" workshop for region 1 on how to conduct the inventory and assess passage using FishXing. As the forest inventories progress, they are identifying questions and recommendations for improvements to the protocol. We plan to act on all recommendations in the fall when we finalize the protocol.
The INFRA culvert working group, in coordination with NRIS water, has recommended that physical attributes associated with all culverts, including those from the inventory, be stored in a culvert module in INFRA. Current thinking is that biological and barrier analysis information will be stored in NRIS water, and that these two applications will be integrated into a seamless user interface. In the meantime, we are assisting R1 in modifying the R6 Access database to store data collected using the draft protocol.
FishXing update
Status: in development.
Updates being incorporated in FishXing 3.0 (expected Sept 2003) include recently published fish swim performance data, metric capability, full pipe flow calculations, an option to compare culvert flows to regulatory criteria, improvements in the user interface and report generation, and otheres.
Legal Requirements
Status: in preparation.
A law student from the University of La Verne is compiling federal and state laws and regulations on the subject of aquatic organism passage at crossings.
Video
Status: filming.
The script for a 15-minute video that highlights the problems with aquatic organism passage and demonstrates solutions is complete, and filming is on-going as opportunities arise. A 3-minute script is in preparation. Tony Edwards is the project coordinator for the videos.
Aquatic Organism Passage Design Reference Guide and Learning System
Status: in development.
This will be an interactive CD-based tool that will offer reference material and/or links to basic design information including papers written for this project. It will encompass all aspects of passage project planning, site assessment, design and monitoring, guiding users to the best available information on each step. It will include case studies, narrated video clips of projects, and lectures on various topics. It is intended both as a desk reference (in place of a design manual), and as a self-paced training tool.
Biological Considerations in Road-Stream Crossing Design
Status: in preparation.
This document will outline what is known about the reasons aquatic animals and insects need to move, and how, when and how far they move. A background report by Mace Vaughan of the Xerces Society on aquatic insects is posted on this website. Chuck Peterson, at Idaho State University, is completing a literature review of road effects on amphibians and reptiles, but has found little specifically on road-stream crossing impacts. Desirable barriers and exotic species will be discussed, as well as what biological information is needed to support different crossing design strategies.
Geomorphic Considerations in Road-Stream Crossing Design
Status: in preparation
This paper deals with the interaction between fixed crossing structures and dynamic stream channels. It will describe observations and measurements that assist in identifying the site-specific hazards likely to afflict crossings as well as possible effects of crossings on the channel. It will also detail how to take and use channel measurements as inputs to crossing design.
Best Construction Practices
Status: getting underway
This report will describe (or link to sites that demonstrate) best techniques for construction of stream crossings: dewatering, subexcavation, compaction, erosion and sediment control, and site stabilization.
Aquatic Organism Passage Design Training Courses
Status: in development
An overview workshop on fish passage held recently in Eugene OR will be expanded to include all aquatic organisms, and should be available by next winter for regional or multi-regional trainings. The workshop includes basic biological needs for movement and effects of barriers on populations, geomorphic considerations, use of FishXing, determining analysis and design flows, different design strategies, erosion and sediment control, and several case studies.
A syllabus for an intensive 1-2 week course for interdisciplinary teams is being prepared for review by a training steering committee. A training workbook is slated to be written to accompany both courses.
Website
Status: in development
A portal to information on aquatic organism passage is being set up. The website will have a discussion board, access to lectures on topics of interest in aquatic passage, and it will facilitate information sharing on projects.
