Rehabilitation Effectiveness Monitoring Plan For Replacement Structures on the Lolo National Forest

 Provide core data necessary to determine if the crossing is meeting the intent of stream simulation design and if additional data collection and analysis are necessary to formulate a c

Rehabilitation Effectiveness Monitoring Plan

For Replacement Structures on the Lolo National Forest

Introduction

This plan outlines the ongoing monitoring process

for assessment of road-stream crossing

rehabilitation work completed by the aquatic and

engineering staffs of the Lolo National Forest.

This plan encompasses structures installed since

1996 that fulfill Regional standards for aquatic

organism passage and accommodation of 100-yr

design flood magnitude Using a “stream

simulation” approach, the design goal is for the

new structure to be transparent to species moving

up and down the stream while also providing for

natural stream processes The premise of stream

simulation design is that similar physical characteristics between the actual stream and through the structure implies similar species passage conditions Accommodation of the 100-year design discharge means that there will be no back-water conditions and the structure and site are

intended to withstand large flood events with minimal damage and will reasonably maintain all design features Monitoring of these structures allows us to assess if they are functioning as intended, and if not, provides meaningful data for determining what remediation actions are necessary to achieve the design goal.

Goal and Objectives

The monitoring goal is to compare the physical characteristics of the adjoining upstream channel with characteristics within the crossing structure (e.g culvert, bridge, bottomless arch, etc.) to assess if stream simulation design components exist and are being maintained

Monitoring plan framework and protocols address the following objectives:

 Maintain the established monitoring framework and protocols existing in this document (i.e this plan represents the absolute basic information necessary for meaningful monitoring and has been specifically designed to be doable, each year, despite personnel and budget

limitations If more detailed data is desired, can be afforded, or is needed, it should be a supplement to the data collected in accordance with this plan.).

 Provide core data necessary to determine if the crossing is meeting the intent of stream simulation design and if additional data collection and analysis are necessary to formulate a conclusion.

 If necessary, provide data from which remediation action can be recommended.

 Provide summaries of findings and recommendations to improve future design and

construction methods.

The table below provides design parameter, criteria, and field methods used to fulfill objectives

Design Parameter Assessed Field Method Evaluation and/or

Effectiveness Criteria

Site Condition and Stability Identify and provide comment on at

least the following features: road fill erosion, inlet debris blockage, footing scour, culvert floor exposure, piping, lateral erosion, or other noticeable concerns

Presence/Absence: If any of these features are present, an engineer and/

or hydrologist will determine if either the stream or structure integrity is compromised If the integrity is compromised or risk of failure or impairment is moderate to high, remediation actions will be taken

Stream Channel Dimensions and

Substrate Conditions

Measure the natural bankfull channel width and take photos, measure, sketch, and comment on dimensions through the structure

Comparison to Natural Dimensions with Assessment of Impact if Departure Occurs:

If stream conditions cause a depth, leap, or velocity barrier to aquatic species, or if dimensions do not accommodate flood capacity, remediation actions will be planned immediately

Stream Gradient Measure the stream thalweg and

water surface slope above, through, and downstream of the crossing structure

Comparison to Natural Gradient: If the stream gradient has

discontinuities from the natural gradient that cause risks to substrate stability or present aquatic species passage risks, remediation actions will be planned immediately.,

Additional Data Collection Completion of Field Form and

Photos

Upon review of all data on the field form and photos, and engineer, fisheries biologist, and/or hydrologist will determine if site conditions warrant additional data collection

Recommendations for Future

Design and Construction

Improvements

Completion of Field Form and Photos Upon review of all data on the field forms, the annual summary report

will identify lessons learned and provide recommendations for design and construction advancements

Stream Simulation Approach

The stream simulation design method was created as an alternative to conventional

methods to pass a wide variety of aquatic and semi-aquatic species The basic concept of stream simulation is that species have evolved to meet the passage challenges of natural channels and if

we reproduce the primary characteristics of the stream inside the culvert, species passage is implied, if not assured Typically, designs use the upstream channel as a reference to replicate within the structure The minimal width that the structure spans is the bankfull channel width, but more often than not 1-2 feet of stream bank on either side of the bankfull width is desired

Designs and construction techniques are still evolving to achieve the desired stream cross-section and bed features In reality, designs are challenged to optimize channel features under the constraint that, unless the entire valley bottom is spanned, true stream simulation can not be achieved (i.e natural lateral and vertical variation is limited and accommodation of the largest ranges of possible flood discharges and debris torrents is not possible) However, the basic premise is that these culverts will allow most processes and hydraulic conditions important for fish and wildlife migration and the transport of water and materials downstream

Methods

Monitoring Frequency

To the extent possible, as-built monitoring will occur immediately following construction with future monitoring as necessary to assess performance measures immediately following flood events that have the ability to change site conditions

Documentation

Refer to the Appendix for a template of the field data forms The data forms are designed to be quick and easy, yet, collect meaningful data (2-3 hours is the average data collection time

conducted by an experienced, two-person team) The data collection is a combination of

qualitative and quantitative formats Sketches and photo points are key components that provide

a visual record, as well as offer a of which additional measured values can be obtained

An annual monitoring report will be prepared by either water or fisheries resource staff This report will: (1) summarize current year work and findings; (2) update Forest totals; and (3) as necessary provide recommendations for mitigation actions

References and Acknowledgement

The following references provided the framework and some narration for this document.

Harris, Richard R., 2005 Monitoring the Effectiveness of Culvert Fish Passage Restoration Final Report for California Department of Fish and Game Center for Forestry, University of California, Berkeley

Lacy, Mark, and Barry Thom, 2000 Restoration Effectiveness Monitoring Plan for the Western Oregon Stream Project Monitoring through June 2008 Oregon Department of Fish and

Wildlife, Corvallis, Oregon

Stream Simulation Monitoring Form

As-Built Survey Post-Built Survey Field date : _ / /

Surveyor name(s): _

SITE

Stream name: Forest Map with crossing site circled (check box when attached)

Forest _ District _Road number: INFRA milepost (if possible, but not required): _

Legal description: T _ _ S / N, R _ _ E / W, Sec _ _, _ _ ¼ of _ _ ¼ Principal meridian _

(If GPS used: X/Y Coordinates Coordinate system Datum _)

STRUCTURE and SITE CONDITION

Shape Dimensions (inches)

Circular Width: _ Height*: _ Length:

Box (concrete or other) *Height is not possible on counter-sunk culverts

Open-bottom arch Material

Pipe-arch Corrugated Metal; Structural Steel; Concrete

Ford Rust/Stain line: (feet from stream bottom)

Bridge

Site Condition

Fill eroding Debris plugging inlet (% of opening blocked )

Debris blocking culvert Water flowing under culvert

Footings or Abutment Scoured Poor alignment with stream

Culvert Floor Exposed Other

Describe overall condition

STREAM

STREAM CHANNEL DIMENSIONS ( Taken upstream of the zone of structure influence)

Bankfull Width

STREAMBED SUBSTRATE RETENTION IN STRUCTURE

Substrate is continuous throughout structure:

Distance to substrate from top of culvert or bridge inlet ft;

Distance to substrate from top of culvert or bridge outlet ft

No substrate in structure

Discontinuous layer of substrate in structure begins at _ ft; ends at ft (measured from inlet)

STREAMBED SPECIAL FEATURES WITHIN STRUCTURE (WEIRS, VANES, BANDS, INDIVIDUAL ROCKS)

Describe type, spacing, size (include in the sketch and provide photo)

.

SUBSTRATE PARTICLE SIZES (estimate relative proportions up to 100%)

Bedrock Boulders Cobbles Gravel Sand Silt/Clay Through/Inside the Structure

Upstream of Structure Influence

GRADIENT (Brief longitudinal profile Lay out tape from upstream location through structure to downstream location and use laser

level for all shots except those within the crossing – within the crossing just measure from the “ceiling” of the structure down to the bed and water surface)

Station Tape

Distance Rod Reading Location Description Directions

@ Stream Bottom

@ Water Surface

Use this row if you need more than two stations upstream of the inlet @ Stream Bottom

@ Water Surface Use this row if you need more than one station upstream of the inlet

1 Upstream

of Inlet @ Stream Bottom @ Water Surface Location at top of breakpoint coming into the crossing inlet

2 At Inlet Top of Culvert (or

Bottom of Bridge Superstructure) @ Stream Bottom @ Water Surface

Location right at the crossing inlet

3 Inside of

Structure Distance to Stream Bottom

Distance to Water Surface

Distance from the top of the culvert (or bottom of the bridge) down to ws

or bed

Extra Inside

of Structure Distance to Stream Bottom

Distance to Water Surface

Use this if you need to get more than one location within the structure (bed varies substantially); otherwise leave blank

4 At Outlet Top of Culvert (or

Bottom of Bridge Superstructure) @ Stream Bottom @ Water Surface

Location right at the crossing outlet

5.Downstrea

m of Outlet @ Stream Bottom @ Water Surface Location at top of breakpoint coming into the crossing inlet

@ Stream Bottom @ Water Surface Use this row if you need more than one stations downstream of the outlet @ Stream Bottom

@ Water Surface

Use this row if you need more than two stations downstream of the outlet

PHOTOGRAPHS -identify and provide captions

1 Inlet from upstream

2 Outlet from downstream

3 Inside of Structure*

* Turn the flash on

4.

Comments: (List anything of interest, anything abnormal; general observations, etc.)

Required photos:

1 Inlet from upstream

2 Outlet from downstream

3 Inside or Through Structure (turn flash on)

STREAMBED SKETCH – CROSS-SECTION, PLAN, AND PROFILE VIEWS

Plan View Directions: show substrate in plan view with dimensions and any features installed or

occurring within the structure that function as grade control Measure distances of structures from the

inlet.

Cross Section at Inlet Cross Section at Midpoint Cross Section at Outlet

Cross Section Directions: Draw substrate in cross sections Measure and record cross-section dimensions of each

cross section This includes the width and depth, as well as width of banks, etc If the structure is a bridge or is

bottomless, just sketch the cross-section within the ovals provided.