Proposal for Monitoring and Research Demonstration (2)

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will provide information on the local, specific effects of clearing. This will include quantification of the temporal response of both the channel and vegetation in the immediate vicinity of the clearing project, especially with regard to alterations in local sediment budgets, local erosion and deposition patterns in the channel, and how those patterns change over time following clearing. The design of both the large-scale and detailed reach-scale data should allow a Before/After Control/Impact (BACI) analysis of the treatment effects. Both the integrated and local effects of clearing need to be monitored in order to document the effects of management activities over different length and time scales, and to provide information for future management activities and the adaptive design of those activities. The proposed work consists entirely of data collection and analysis to determine spatial and temporal trends in channel characteristics. The survey data before and after clearing will be collected in such a manner that model based analysis could also be conducted. For example, the data could be used in modeling to assess changes in flow and sedimentation patterns associated with the management activities. This proposal does not include funding to conduct such modeling analysis. Proposed Methods for Monitoring and Research Management Methods NPPD will, working with the Management Oversight Committee for the Cottonwood Ranch Property, design management methods to remove approximately 55 acres of woody vegetation from island A and approximately 40 acres of vegetation from island B(Figure 1). Vegetation will be removed using excavators, bulldozers, chainsaws and other equipment. To increase the erodibility of the banks any vegetation armoring the bank will be removed and deposited onto the islands. In areas where the islands have gently sloping banks the banks will be made vertical to facilitate erosion. In addition to the vegetation removal approximately 4,500 linear feet of abandoned channels on island A and approximately 2,500 linear feet of abandoned channels on island B will be excavated as pilot channels to convey river flows. The result will be an increase in the number of islands, reduction in island size and an increase in the amount of river bank subject to erosion. All material removed from the old channels will be deposited on the existing island tops. All management activities will occur as soon as possible after initial pre- management measurements are made. All management will be confined to the north channel of island A. No management activities will occur along the south channel of island A, to provide as much of a control situation as is possible. The management activities described above will be funded and carried out by NPPD. Information gained from this research will be used to adapt management in other sections of the Cottonwood Ranch Property as well as other properties obtained by the Program. Scope of Monitoring and Research The monitoring and research program is designed to link the detection of geomorphologic responses with a mechanism to investigate its causes using a sound experimental framework. To accomplish this, two components aze needed to satisfy the temporal and spatial resolution of the data needed: 1) A general monitoring component that focuses on the integrated and long term effects of management within the Cottonwood Ranch and associated impacts downstream and, 2) an intensive research component that examines vegetation removal in detail in order to understand direct effects on the channel system from vegetation clearing. Page 8 of 15