Chapter 2 Habitat Protection & E

Chapter 2
Habitat Protection & Enhancement

Overall Goal

The overall goal of habitat protection and enhancement actions is to work with public and private partners to protect and enhance habitat for native fish, wildlife and vegetation through education, cooperation and public involvement.

Background

The following concerns regarding fish and wildlife populations and their respective habitats have been identified in the Nestucca and Neskowin Watersheds:

A lack of information about e cosystem processes, population dynamics, sustainable population levels and key habitat areas
The existence of barriers to fish passage, such as improperly installed culverts and tide gates
A loss of quality estuary habitat resulting from dikes, diversions, drainage, and tide gates
The spread of exotic and invasive plants, resulting in displacement of native species and loss of habitat quality in the watershed
Chronic erosion and instability of streambanks
Stream channel confinement and resulting from road construction in riparian areas
A lack of mature vegetation in streamside areas. Much of the riparian area in the watershed lacks the large coniferous trees that can provide high quality wildlife habitat and future fish habitat
The adverse effects of low stream flows and high water temperatures on aquatic life. Vegetat ion in riparian zones in general is not continuous, resulting in a lack of channel shade and elevated summertime water temperatures

Objectives

Objective 1: To increase our understanding of native fish, wildlife, and vegetation populations and their distribution within the Nestucca and Neskowin Watersheds.

Habitat Action #1: Establish baseline population, distribution, and habitat data for fish, wildlife and plant species to enable project prioritization and monitoring within watersheds.

Watershed Level Strategy: All landscape classes.

Specific Tasks for Implementation:

Assist Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Research Section with adult fish spawning surveys. Coordinate volunteer
opportunities for citizen training and participation
Support ODFW Research Section juvenile fish surveys
Assist agencies in surveying for and/or assembling data on the presence of beavers and special status species, including Spotted Owls, bats, amphibians, invertebrates and plants
Assist agencies in assembling and maintaining a database of fish, wildlife, plant and noxious/invasive weed populations, including their respective habitats and distribution within the Nestucca and Neskowin watersheds
Secure funding sources for research projects if necessary
Secure permission to access private lands well in advance of surveys

Education Component:

Training of volunteers (schools, teachers, and landowners)

Lead/Sponsor: Public agencies and organizations, NNWC members, private landowners.

Objective 2: To maintain or im prove habitat for fish.

Habitat Action #2: Encourage and implement fish habitat and riparian enhancement/restoration projects.

Watershed Level Strategy: Primarily in mid-slope and lowland areas.

Riparian planting--focus on low gradient small floodplain channels, low gradient moderately confined channels, moderate gradient confined channels and moderately steep narrow valley channels
Restriction of livestock access--focus on low and moderate gradient confined and moderately confined channels
Instream structure development--follow state guidelines while focusing on low and moderate gradient low and moderately confined channels
Improvement or removal of fish passage barriers

Specific Tasks for Implementation:

Evaluate the feasibility of improvements and secure funding for priority proj ects
Plant trees in riparian areas in conjunction with volunteers, schools, inmate or youth crews, Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD)
Encourage fencing projects
Monitor to compare against baselines from Objective 1
Provide information, resource assistance, and/or outreach to landowners

Education Component:

Student and volunteer training
Demonstration projects and tour sites

Lead/Sponsor: Council staff, members, SWCD, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), ODFW.

Habitat Action #3: Conduct fish carcass dispersal projects to enhance stream nutrient levels.

Watershed Level Strategy: Fish bearing streams, generally in mid-slope and lowland areas.

Specific Tasks for Implementation:

Seek guida nce from ODFW and DEQ on streams where fish carcasses should be placed
Develop and maintain list of volunteers and schools to participate in fish carcass placement

Education Component:

Newspaper and/or newsletter article on project
Participation by volunteers, schools and landowner

Lead/Sponsor: Council staff, members, ODFW, DEQ, EPA.

Habitat Action #4: Survey and encourage the improvement of fish passage at barriers such as culverts, tide gates and dams.

Watershed Level Strategy:

Headwaters: Support and review projects on federal lands
Mid-slope areas: Inventory culverts and small dams; encourage projects on private, state, and county lands where there are willing landowners. Encourage culvert removal, replacement, or modification to remove barriers to fi sh passage
Lowland areas: Focus on estuarine and low gradient channels. Inventory dikes, small dams, culverts and tide gates; assist with improvement projects where there are willing landowners. Encourage dike breaching and removal. Encourage dam, tide gate or culvert removal, replacement, or modification to remove barriers to fish passage

Specific Tasks for Implementation:

Assemble in GIS format all existing data on dams, tide gates, culverts, fish presence and habitat in the Nestucca and Neskowin Watersheds from federal, state and county agencies
Conduct field inventories with willing landowners using evaluation criteria specified by ODFW to assess culverts, fish presence and upstream habitat. Work with ODFW to train volunteers how to conduct inventories. Inventory 2-4 subwatersheds per year
Identify priority subwatersheds with at least one known fish passage problem
Prioritize fish passage improvement projects for the Nestucca and Neskowin Watersheds
Obtain funding and labor for the highest priority projects
Seek funding, permits, partners to improve at least one subwatershed per year
Design and implement fish passage improvement projects on a subwatershed basis
Monitor to ensure proper functioning of dams, tide gates and culverts for water quality and fish passage

Education Component:

Flyers and newspaper articles discussing need to address dike, dam, tide gate and culvert issues
Demonstration projects and tour sites
Potential to teach contractors new technology and methods
Information/education presentations to school groups and other interested individuals, groups or organizat ions

Lead/Sponsor: Council staff, members, residential communities, government agencies, private landowners.

Objective 3: To maintain or improve aquatic, riparian, and upland habitats for native species.

Habitat Action #5: Promote the restoration and protection of unique aquatic, riparian and upland habitats for native plants and animals, including special status species.

Watershed Level Strategy:

Headwater areas: Work with state and federal agencies and willing landowners to protect and restore late-successional forests
Mid-slope areas: Work with county, state and federal agencies and willing landowners to protect and restore special habitats, such as late-successional forests and wetlands
Lowland areas: Work with county, state and federal agencies, residential communities and willing landowne rs to protect and restore special habitats such as late-successional forests, estuaries, wetlands, and riparian areas
Upland areas: Work with county, state and federal agencies, residential communities and willing landowners to protect and restore special habitats such as late-successional forests, meadows and sand dunes

Specific Tasks for Implementation:

Locate and identify areas needing protection or restoration
Partner with willing landowners to pursue protection and enhancement options for limited habitats. Identify available incentive programs and land management options
Obtain funding when required
Work with small woodlot owners to complete habitat improvement, protection and enhancement projects
Cooperate with local native plant nurseries
Hold workshops on incentives, easements, land trusts

Education Component:

Provide information on ways the schools and public can protect and restore special habitats
Provide information on late-successional forest habitats, including the importance of snags and down wood
Provide information on ways to improve habitat for special status species, such as building bat-friendly bridges, maintaining meadows for the Oregon silverspot butterfly and sensitive plants

Lead/Sponsor: Council staff, members, USFS, BLM, USFWS.

Habitat Action #6: Encourage the removal of noxious and invasive weeds.

Watershed Level Strategy: All landscape classes.

Support and assist counties, ODA and other agencies in inventory and manual control of noxious and invasive weeds on public and private land. Encourage manual and bio logical control where feasible

Specific Tasks for Implementation:

Locate sites needing attention for noxious and invasive weeds. Contact landowners and agencies-determine interest and obtain permission to field check sites
Build partnerships with agencies charged with combating noxious and invasive weeds
Research and provide options for control and eradication
Obtain funding and volunteer labor for inventory, implementation and monitoring

Education Component:

Provide public with information on noxious and invasive weeds
Develop and distribute a list of alternate native species landowners can plant
Encourage volunteers and schools to participate in noxious and invasive weed removal projects

Lead/Sponsor: Council staff, members, SWCD, OD A, residential communities.