rio salado, rio salado oeste phoenix, arizona ecosystem restoration project h&h for planners...

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Army Corps Engineers ® s Angeles District One Team : Relevant, Ready, Responsive, Reliable Salt River Watershed, Rio Salado Oeste, Phoenix, Ar Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona Ecosystem Restoration Project H&H for Planners February 2011 One Team : Relevant, Ready, Responsive, Reliable

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Page 1: Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona Ecosystem Restoration Project H&H for Planners February 2011 Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona

US Army Corpsof Engineers ®

Los Angeles District

Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona

Ecosystem Restoration Project

H&H for PlannersFebruary 2011

Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona

Ecosystem Restoration Project

H&H for PlannersFebruary 2011

One Team : Relevant, Ready, Responsive, Reliable 1

Page 2: Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona Ecosystem Restoration Project H&H for Planners February 2011 Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona

US Army Corpsof Engineers ®

Los Angeles District

Study Area

ARIZONA

UtahN

evad

a

Colorado

New

Mex

ico

Verde River

SaltPhoenix

Tucson

Gila River

Santa

River

Cruz

Mexico

Cal

iforn

ia

Col

orad

o

River

River

Flagstaff

Greater Phoenix, AZ Metropolitan Areaand

Salt River Project System

Greater Phoenix, AZ Metropolitan Areaand

Salt River Project System

Salt River Watershed15,000 square miles

Joins Gila River west of Phoenix

Downtown Phoenix( 19th AVE to 83rd AVE - 8 miles )

Other USACE ProjectsTres Rios / Rio Salado / Va Shly’ay Akimel

Salt River Watershed

River

Verde RiverWatershed

Gila RiverWatershed

Page 3: Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona Ecosystem Restoration Project H&H for Planners February 2011 Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona

US Army Corpsof Engineers ®

Los Angeles District

Study Area

Tres RiosCity of Phoenix

Design and Construction

Rio Salado OesteCity of Phoenix

Feasibility

Rio SaladoCities of Phoenix / Tempe

Construction

Va Shly’ay AkimelSalt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community

City of MesaPED

Greater Phoenix, AZ Metropolitan Areaand

Salt River Project System

Greater Phoenix, AZ Metropolitan Areaand

Salt River Project System

Page 4: Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona Ecosystem Restoration Project H&H for Planners February 2011 Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona

US Army Corpsof Engineers ®

Los Angeles District

Postcard courtesy Susan Sargent Postcard courtesy Susan Sargent

1890’s near 51st Ave1890’s near 51st Ave2003 near 51st Ave

Historic Conditions

• Perennial stream• Shallow groundwater• Meandering channel• Emergent wetlands• Cottonwood - Willow• Mesquite

Study Area in 1937Study Area in 1937

Page 5: Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona Ecosystem Restoration Project H&H for Planners February 2011 Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona

US Army Corpsof Engineers ®

Los Angeles District

Southwestern Riparian Trend

18501850

20002000

19401940• Southwest increasingly urban

• Arid Southwest riparian ecosystem habitat = critically endangered

• Cottonwood-willow riparian forest = most threatened ecosystem in the Nation ( Nature Conservancy )

90 % loss in functional habitat

Page 6: Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona Ecosystem Restoration Project H&H for Planners February 2011 Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona

US Army Corpsof Engineers ®

Los Angeles District

Existing Conditions

River Bottom / Native

Sand / Gravel Operation

Agricultural

Page 7: Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona Ecosystem Restoration Project H&H for Planners February 2011 Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona

US Army Corpsof Engineers ®

Los Angeles District

Project Area

Baseline Road

Lower Buckeye Road

83rd

Ave

nu

e

19th

Ave

nu

e

100-year Flood Plain100-year Flood Plain

11 22 3300

MilesMiles

Page 8: Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona Ecosystem Restoration Project H&H for Planners February 2011 Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona

US Army Corpsof Engineers ®

Los Angeles District

Page 9: Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona Ecosystem Restoration Project H&H for Planners February 2011 Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona

US Army Corpsof Engineers ®

Los Angeles District

9

HabitatsRiparian habitats

reduced.

BiotaNative vegetation

Reduced/eliminated

GeomorphologyFloodplain altered

Connectivity reducedWater Quality

H&HPerennial water Flow eliminated

GroundwaterLowered

Physical &Chemical

Processes

Habitat &Biota

Conceptual Model

From Feasibility Report, Appendix A, pg 13Currently, the Salt River is characterized as an effluent-dominated water course where highly disturbed marginal riparian habitat only occurs at locations where wastewater effluent and nuisance water runoff are discharged into the channel. The remainder of the habitat is so disturbed that most of the channel is devoid of vegetation and consists of a barren cobbly wash.

Stressors: Urbanization

ChannelizationGravel Mining

Stressors: 6 Storage Dams

Irrigation DiversionAgriculture

Stressors: Invasive Salt-CedarVegetation Clearing

Page 10: Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona Ecosystem Restoration Project H&H for Planners February 2011 Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona

US Army Corpsof Engineers ®

Los Angeles District

Goal – provide diverse habitat types that naturally occur in a Sonoran desert riparian

system.Objective Habitat Type Criteria

Restore riparian habitat including:

Mesquite Mesquite Habitat is found on upper terraces of floodplain, above the active channel (low water demand).

Cottonwood/willow Cottonwood and Willow Habitat is found along river banks or at approximately the 2 year flood level (moderate water demand)

Wetland Marsh Wetland-Marsh Habitat is found at the lowest elevations in shallow ponds or saturated soils (high water demand)

Aquatic Strand/Scrub Aquatic Strand/Scrub Habitat is found in the channel and along the channel border (high water demand

Open water

Page 11: Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona Ecosystem Restoration Project H&H for Planners February 2011 Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona

US Army Corpsof Engineers ®

Los Angeles District

11

• Model used during planning – H&H:

• HEC-RAS for water surface profiles, bridge scour

– Geomorphology: • Stable-channel approach initially used

(EM 1110-2-1418, 1994)• Sediment Transport: Used HEC-6T to

predict scour or deposition over a 25 year period

• Scour: Used HEC-RAS and Federal Highways guidelines

– Water Quality: None– Vegetation: None, though an HGM type of

philosophy was used.– Biota (Ecological Response)

• HEP

Page 12: Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona Ecosystem Restoration Project H&H for Planners February 2011 Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona

US Army Corpsof Engineers ®

Los Angeles District

12

Factor considered Design Considerations

River Function

Habitat

Bank Stability

Flood Impacts

Groundwater

Other

In an urban, high energy setting, river function had to be modified based on habitat, bank stability, and flooding concerns. One of the goals was to design a low flow channel having “soft sides and bottom” that would convey the design discharge of 12,200 cfs.

Stage-discharge-frequency relationship had to provide conditions favorable to floodplain vegetation with occasional flushing of floodplain during larger flood events. Irrigation water is needed to get floodplain vegetation started.

Bank erosion and channel migration had to be limited

No change in 100-year flood elevation. Overbank “n” increased to check sensitivity

To meet NPDES requirements, salinity levels must be kept low so that native trees aren’t impacted. Operations must not cause groundwater migration and bank erosion must be kept to a minimum especially in the vicinity of 13 existing landfills

FAA had 10,000 foot open water constraint to prevent attracting waterfowl and larger birds

Formulate Alternative Plans

Page 13: Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona Ecosystem Restoration Project H&H for Planners February 2011 Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona

US Army Corpsof Engineers ®

Los Angeles District

Recommended Plan - Alt 5A

Acres RestoredCottonwood - Willow ( 375 )

Mesquite ( 417 )

Wetlands ( 190 )

Riparian Scrub ( 296 )

Scrub shrub ( 56 )

Channel ( 170 )

Water supply( Storm water / effluent )

River channel restored

Revegetation

Invasive species removed

Gravel pits restored( in floodplain )

Before After (Rio Salado Examples)

Page 14: Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona Ecosystem Restoration Project H&H for Planners February 2011 Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona

US Army Corpsof Engineers ®

Los Angeles District

14

HabitatsRiparian habitatChannel habitat

Wetlands

BiotaCottonwood/Willow

MesquiteWetlands

Riparian Scrub

GeomorphologyChannel restored

Floodplain restored Water Quality

H&HIncreased soil moisture

Low flow channel

Physical &Chemical

Processes

Habitat &Biota

Conceptual Model

Actions: Channel RestorationGravel Pits Restored

Grade Control

Actions: Water Supply from

Storm Water Effluent

Actions: Native Veg. Planting

Invasive Removal

Page 15: Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona Ecosystem Restoration Project H&H for Planners February 2011 Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona

US Army Corpsof Engineers ®

Los Angeles District

Recommended Plan - Alt 5A

Baseline Road

Lower Buckeye Road

83rd

Ave

nu

e

19th

Ave

nu

e

100-year Flood Plain100-year Flood Plain

11 22 3300

MilesMiles

Channel Restoration ( 170 acres )

Cottonwood – Willow ( 375 acres )

Mesquite ( 417 acres )

Emergent Wetlands ( 190 acres )

Page 16: Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona Ecosystem Restoration Project H&H for Planners February 2011 Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona

US Army Corpsof Engineers ®

Los Angeles District

Recreation Plan

Baseline Road

Lower Buckeye Road

83rd

Ave

nu

e

19th

Ave

nu

e

100-year Flood Plain100-year Flood Plain

11 22 3300

MilesMiles

P

P

P P

P

Channel Restoration ( 170 acres )

Cottonwood – Willow ( 375 acres )

Mesquite ( 417 acres )

Emergent Wetlands ( 190 acres )

Multi-Purpose Trail ( 14 miles )

Walk – In Access Points ( 5 )

Parking / Access Points ( 5 )P

Page 17: Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona Ecosystem Restoration Project H&H for Planners February 2011 Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona

US Army Corpsof Engineers ®

Los Angeles District

Revegetation

Cover Type Acres

Cottonwood - Willow ( 375 )Mesquite ( 417 )Wetlands ( 190 )

Riparian Scrub ( 296 )Scrub shrub ( 56 )

Revegetation with native species at appropriate sites throughout project

area.

Rio Salado 2003

Rio Salado 2005

Rio Salado 2007

Page 18: Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona Ecosystem Restoration Project H&H for Planners February 2011 Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona

US Army Corpsof Engineers ®

Los Angeles District

Gravel Pits

35

th

D

r

Broadway Rd

Corona Ave

Parkway Dr

Wier Ave Wier Ave

27th and 37th Avenues

Reshaping/cut and fill

~3M cy

Tie into channel/floodplain

Page 19: Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona Ecosystem Restoration Project H&H for Planners February 2011 Rio Salado, Rio Salado Oeste Phoenix, Arizona

US Army Corpsof Engineers ®

Los Angeles District

Channel Restoration

Grading/Terracing within 10 yr

20,200 cfs design discharge

Cut/Fill 660,000 cubic yards

Grade Control at 35th Avenue Bridge

Restored river channel similar to historical channel