CONTENTS

• Introduction
• Vision
• Goals
• Monitoring Perspective
• Partnering with AFRP and the Community
• Current Status
• Future Steps
• References

INTRODUCTION

In 1998, California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) acquired the Merced River Ranch (MRR) with the goals of protecting riparian habitat, improving conditions for salmonids, and providing a long-term source for spawning gravel for the Merced River and nearby projects (CDFG 1998). Restoration planning began with Phase I of the Merced River Corridor Restoration Plan, funded by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Anadromous Fish Restoration Program (AFRP). The primary goal of Phase I was to provide a technically-sound, publicly-supported and feasible plan to restore habitat for fish populations in the lower 52 mi (84 km) of the Merced River. The plan extent is from Crocker-Huffman Dam to the confluence with the San Joaquin River, and includes the Dredger Tailings Reach (DTR) in which MRR is contained.

Phase II of the process was funded by CALFED in 1998, and consisted of baseline investigations into the geomorphic and riparian vegetation characteristics of the project reach (Stillwater Sciences 2001). These investigations include the DTR and also identify social, institutional, and infrastructural opportunities and constraints for restoration (Stillwater Sciences and EDAW 2001). In 2000, CALFED funded Phase III that included the development of the Merced River Corridor Restoration Plan (Stillwater Sciences 2002) and a series of public workshops to present the plan and receive input from interested stakeholders and the public.

The Restoration Plan identifies objectives and actions based on the scientific understanding of the Merced River. To guide restoration planning and address the various environmental impacts in the DTR, the Plan identified the following specific restoration objectives:

• Balance sediment supply and transport capacity to allow the accumulation and retention of salmonid spawning gravel;
• Restore floodplain functions that foster recruitment of riparian vegetation and the quality of riparian habitat;
• Increase in-channel habitat complexity to improve aquatic habitat for native aquatic species; and
• Re-engineer the low-flow and bankfull channel geometry so that it is scaled to function properly under current (regulated) flow conditions and to prevent riparian vegetation encroachment in the active channel.

From 2003-2006, Phase IV of the planning process built upon the Phase III plan with funding from the California Bay-Delta Authority. The Phase IV objective was to design pilot floodplain and channel restoration experiments at MRR to initiate the restoration of natural ecosystem function, and to develop monitoring and evaluation plans to improve scientific understanding of the driving processes for floodplain restoration and inform future projects. Studies on tailings volume and texture, potential for mercury contamination, wetlands extent, revegetation, biological conditions, and hydrology were completed and served as the foundation for implementation of the restoration project.

In Phase V of the project, Cramer Fish Sciences (CFS) worked with Philip Williams and Associates (PWA) to complete a revised project design plan and implement the project with AFRP and in coordination with the CDFG. Cramer Fish Sciences completed regulatory compliance, developed a restoration monitoring program, conducted pre-project monitoring, and implemented the first year of project construction.

VISION

To restore (i.e., rehabilitate and enhance) channel, floodplain and riparian ecosystem processes and critical habitats for juvenile and adult salmonids, in coordination with local communities and stakeholders, to promote the recovery of healthy and diverse Chinook salmon and steelhead populations in the Merced River, while helping to meet the abundance goals of the Anadromous Fish Restoration Program.

This vision fits into the framework of salmonid population recovery on the Merced River and is aligned with the following AFRP goals to: 1) involve local partners in the implementation and evaluation of restoration actions; 2) improve habitat for all anadromous life stages through improved physical habitat; and, 3) collect fish population, health and habitat data to facilitate evaluation of restoration actions (USFWS 2001). The vision is considered in the context of historic land use and current water management constraints and meets objectives outlined in previous planning efforts for the Merced River Ranch (Stillwater Sciences 2006).

GOALS

1. To serve as an example of publicly-supported applied fisheries and restoration science;
2. To augment, rehabilitate and enhance productive juvenile salmonid rearing and adult spawning habitat in the Merced River; and,
3. To determine project effectiveness with an efficient and scientifically-robust monitoring program.

These goals fit into the framework of AFRP, and meet the AFRP and CALFED requirement to use adaptive management in planning, design, and implementation (CALFED 2001). The goals from the draft plan (CALFED ERP 02-P12-D) have been incorporated here and refined.

MONITORING PERSPECTIVE

Our monitoring program will take an 'Ecosystem Perspective' as described by the Adaptive Management Forum (2002) by tracking physical and biological parameters; and the structural and functional responses by the restored ecosystem. Following suggestions from the Forum, we will consider alternative paradigms of ecosystem restoration when developing our project conceptual designs; develop an action plan to incorporate monitoring information and provide a framework for adaptive management; continue to clearly define quantifiable short- and long-term goals; and, include performance criteria to describe ecosystem function. We will ensure links in scientific input, project design, and implementation factors are intact and continuously refined. Understanding fish use, diet composition, and ultimate success (i.e., exit Merced River) is important to determine the effectiveness of the habitat restoration. It is critical to understand if the fish are using the habitat, if the links to the prey resource are intact, and if the availability of the site contributes to the overall success of the fish in river rearing.

PARTNERING WITH AFRP AND THE COMMUNITY

This monitoring program will occur with the contribution of AFRP and potentially interested community members. We anticipate AFRP staff members will assist with periodic data collections including aquatic habitat sampling, vegetation and topographic surveysl, and we anticipate engaging community members during the public outreach activities associated with the project. Through a coordinated effort, more detailed monitoring can be accomplished and partnerships with interested parties strengthened.

CURRENT STATUS

In 2010, the first year of implementation began for the MRR Floodplain Restoration Project. Cramer Fish Sciences and PWA completed engineered designs in February 2010. Cramer Fish Sciences worked with AFRP and CDFG to complete all county, state and federal permitting processes before September 2010. Ford Construction (subcontractor) began equipment delivery to the project site and construction began on September 23, 2010 and continued through October 15, 2010. Instream construction began during the afternoon of September 28, 2010 and continued through the afternoon of October 15, 2010. All heavy equipment was steam-cleaned and dried prior to onsite delivery. Additionally, rubber-tired front-end loaders used for instream construction were filled with biodegradable vegetable oil. Copies of project permits were available in each vehicle and piece of heavy equipment located onsite, and all active construction personnel were trained in permitting and monitoring requirements. The subcontractor held regular onsite meetings to ensure all personnel were clear on safety requirements and emergency procedures.

An EXTEC E7 screening plant was used to process dredger tailings excavated by a CAT 320 excavator. Material was sorted into three distinct piles: (1) fines (< 5 mm); (2) spawning gravel (5-127 mm); and (3) oversized fill (> 127 mm). Total material excavated was ~15,340 yds³, with ~12,272 yds³ of spawning gravel. Total spawning gravel placed in the Merced River was ~10,772 yds³. At least one CFS biologist was present during all construction activities to guide construction activities following design criteria. The biologist also provided monitoring for the presence of spawning fall-run Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), with visual spawning surveys conducted twice daily at known spawning riffles adjacent to the 2010 work area. All additional monitoring needed to meet permit requirements was conducted throughout active construction, September 23, 2010 through October 15, 2010.

FUTURE STEPS

In 2011, construction and monitoring will continue for the MRR restoration project. The anticipated start date is August 1, 2010. Based on 2010 operations, we estimate placing approximately 14,000 yd³ (10,704 m³) of spawning gravel within the Merced River channel in 2011. The remaining excavation of the south side channel will also be completed this year. Monitoring activities will be ongoing during all construction activities and will include pre-project surveys for listed species, vegetation buffering where needed, ongoing visual monitoring for early spawners, tracking water quality in terms of temperature and turbidity, and determining mercury levels in excavated sediments and water. Additionally, planning work has begun to assess the potential to mine gravel suitable from the MRR, and use it to support restoration projects working to improve spawning and rearing habitat in the Merced River and other places in the basin. This was among the original goals of CDFG: to provide a source of gravel for restoration projects in the area and return the MRR to a more natural condition (CDFG 1998).

REFERENCES

• Stillwater Sciences. 2001. Merced River corridor restoration plan baseline studies volume II: geomorphic and riparian vegetation investigations report. Prepared for CALFED, Sacramento, CA. 76 pp.
• Stillwater Sciences and EDAW, Inc. 2001. Merced River corridor restoration plan, identification of social, institutional, and infrastrucutral opportunities and constraints. Stillwater Sciences, Berkeley, CA. and EDAW, Inc., San Francisco, CA.
• Stillwater Sciences. 2002. Merced River Corridor Restoration Plan. Stillwater Sciences, Berkeley, California. 245 pp.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2001. Final restoration plan for the Anadromous Fish Restoration Program. A Plan to increase Natural Production of Anadromous Fish in the Central Valley of California. Report of the Anadromous Fish Restoration Program Core Group, Central Valley Project Improvement Act to the Secretary of the Interior. Stockton, CA.
• Stillwater Sciences. 2006. Merced River Ranch channel floodplain restoration: Post implementation monitoring plan. Stillwater Sciences, Berkeley, CA.
• Adaptive Management Forum Scientific and Technical Panel (AMF). 2002. Merced River Adaptive Management Forum Report. Information Center for the Environment, University of California, Davis. July 2002. 33 pp. (Available: http://www.delta.dfg.ca.gov/afrp/documents/MERCED_RIVER_AMF_REPORT.pdf).
• CDFG. 1998. CALFED category III project: Land acquisition for Basso Bridge and Merced River Ranch.
• CALFED Bay-Delta Program. 2001. CALFED Bay-Delta Program annual report 2001. Sacramento, CA.