SALT LAKE CITYSALT LAKE CITY

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIESDEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES

Red Butte Creek Riparian Corridor StudyRed Butte Creek Riparian Corridor Study

Public Workshop 1Public Workshop 1October 28, 2008October 28, 2008

Facilitated by BIO-WEST, IncFacilitated by BIO-WEST, Inc.

Workshop Presentation OutlineWorkshop Presentation Outline• Purpose and goals of the study• Riparian corridor definitions and

functions• Red Butte Creek facts• Public outreach and input• Baseline condition assessments• Project timeline and milestones

Why is SLC Conducting This Why is SLC Conducting This Study?Study? • To assess current

conditions

• To determine desired future conditions

• To identify opportunities for restoration and remediation of Red Butte Creek

Why is SLC Conducting This Why is SLC Conducting This Study?Study? • To use the

information, data, and maps developed during the study to inform planning, permitting, and administrative processes of the Riparian Corridor Overlay District Ordinance (RCO).

What Will the Riparian Corridor What Will the Riparian Corridor Study Management Plan Study Management Plan Include?Include?• Statement(s) of desired future

conditions

• Identification of restoration and remediation projects

• Cost analysis and ranking of projects

• Identification of project funding mechanisms

• Presentation of best management practices

• Inventory of GIS-based information

• Continuation of public outreach

Why Are Riparian Corridors Why Are Riparian Corridors Important?Important? • They provide significant habitat

– 60% of vertebrate species in the arid Southwest rely on riparian areas (Ohmart and Anderson 1982)

• They serve as our “green infrastructure”

• They are rare

– Occupy very small portion of land area

– In Salt Lake City, less than 1.2% (includes Jordan River plus four creeks)

Red Butte CreekRed Butte Creek – A Limited – A Limited ResourceResource• Open channel length in city ~3.6

miles• Lower 3.4 miles in culvert pipe

Red Butte Creek – Historic Red Butte Creek – Historic ImportanceImportance • Source of fresh water

– City’s streams developed for water supply soon after settlement

– Fort Douglas (est. 1862) relied on Red Butte Creek for irrigation and drinking water

– Court battles between U.S. Army and Salt Lake City over this limited resource

Riparian Area DefinitionRiparian Area Definition • Zone of influence between aquatic and

upland areas

• Sometimes defined as including channel, floodplain, and transition zone

(Illustration by G. Zaimes; based on BLM 1991).

Riparian Corridor – Legal Riparian Corridor – Legal DefinitionDefinition• City’s Riparian Corridor Overlay Zone Ordinance (RCO)

applies to the area within 100 feet of the annual high water line (AHWL) of above-ground streams.

• “Stream corridor” definition: the stream plus the 100-foot riparian corridor on each side.

• Our study involves assessing these stream corridors.

Riparian Corridor Functions:Riparian Corridor Functions:

• Recreation and aesthetics

Red Butte Garden

Riparian Corridor Functions:Riparian Corridor Functions:

• Open space and public lands accessMiller Park

Riparian Corridor Functions:Riparian Corridor Functions:

• Shading and water temperature control

Miller Park

Riparian Corridor Functions:Riparian Corridor Functions:

• Floodplain storage and flood-damage reductionUniversity of Utah

Riparian Corridor Functions:Riparian Corridor Functions:

• Wildlife and aquatic habitat

VA/ Sunnyside

Riparian Corridor Functions:Riparian Corridor Functions:

• Wildlife travel corridors/connectivity

Red Butte Garden

Riparian Corridor Functions:Riparian Corridor Functions:• Provision of organic matter to stream

ecosystem

– habitat complexity

– nutrient cycling

Riparian Corridor Functions:Riparian Corridor Functions:

• Stream bank stability and safety

Parleys Ck – Sugarhouse Pk

Riparian Corridor Functions:Riparian Corridor Functions:

• Pollution and nutrient filtration and sediment trapping

Riparian Corridor Functions:Riparian Corridor Functions:

• Storm water and irrigation water conveyance

Effects of UrbanizationEffects of Urbanization• Vegetated areas have been converted to

impervious pavement, rooftops, etc.

• Rain water that used to infiltrate now runs off

illustrations from "Stream Corridor Restoration: Principles, Processes, and Practices, 10/98, by the Federal Interagency Stream Restoration Working Group

Effects of UrbanizationEffects of Urbanization• Storm runoff

flows have higher peaks

• Peaks occur more rapidly

• “Flashier” hydrology

illustration from "Stream Corridor Restoration: Principles, Processes, and Practices, 10/98, by the Federal Interagency Stream Restoration Working Group

Effects of UrbanizationEffects of Urbanization

Rain Runoff Storm Drains Creeks

• Red Butte Creek is an essential part of the city’s storm water conveyance system.

Red Butte Creek - FactsRed Butte Creek - Facts• Smallest of four Salt Lake City creeks

– average flow 3.2 cfs

– drainage area 11 sq. mi.

• Water quality meets Utah State standards

• Red Butte Reservoir (above Red Butte Garden) contains a refuge population of endangered June sucker

• Upper watershed relatively pristine

• Upper watershed managed by U.S. Forest Service as the Red Butte Research Natural Area

• No fish in Red Butte Creek below Reservoir (?)reference: Salt Lake County Water Quality Stewardship Plan 2008

Red Butte CreekRed Butte Creek

What Does a Riparian Corridor What Does a Riparian Corridor Study Involve?Study Involve?

BIO-WEST

Planning & Public Outreachpublic workshops (four)

subcommittee/stakeholder meetings (quarterly)

web site comment form

Baseline Condition Assessment

vegetation

stream condition

Historical and Current Trend Assessment

Salt Lake City Public Utilities

Management Plan / Desired Future Conditions

How Will Community How Will Community InvolvementInvolvementAffect the Study?Affect the Study?

• Mayor Becker’s goal: “Our goal is that this study will use a collaborative approach to information exchange, joint information gathering, consultation, and consensus in a way that will promote legitimacy and transparency, encourage creative problem-solving, and support a timely implementation.”

Purposes and Goals Purposes and Goals of the Public of the Public Outreach ProcessOutreach Process

• Elicit community and stakeholder participation.

• Identify public values and concerns.

• Communicate results of the study for public awareness, education, and support.

Public Outreach Activities:Public Outreach Activities:• Public workshops (series of four)

• Stakeholder and interagency meetings (quarterly)

• Web-based information exchange (www.slch20.com)

• Draft study comments and responses

• Final study adoption meetings

Public Outreach Workshops Public Outreach Workshops Overview:Overview:• Workshop 1: Visioning and Issue

Identification

• Workshop 2: Baseline Stream and Riparian Conditions

• Workshop 3: Proposed Improvement Project Costs and Ranking

• Workshop 4: Draft Document Presentation

Baseline Condition AssessmentBaseline Condition Assessment

• Compile/summarize existing available information:

– water quality

– wetlands

– stream stability (county field assessments)

– hydrology

– land use/watershed condition

– habitat

• 2008 Salt Lake County Water Quality Stewardship Plan (WaQSP)

Baseline Condition AssessmentBaseline Condition Assessment• Field assessments – low flow and high flow:

– survey cross sections

– measure size of stream bed material

– assess condition of culverts

– note problem areas (severe bank erosion, eroding access trails, etc.)

– note areas and types of bank hardening

– general habitat/ stability

Baseline Condition AssessmentBaseline Condition Assessment

• Historical and Current Trend Assessment:

– are channels actively widening?

– are the banks moving?

– are channels actively incising? (drop in stream bed elevation)

• We need your help!

– old photographs

– changes you’ve observed on Red Butte Creek

Baseline Condition AssessmentBaseline Condition Assessment

• Field assessments – vegetation:

– map riparian vegetation communities

– canopy, understory (shrub), ground cover

– percent cover, species

– note invasive species (Russian olive, tamarisk, Siberian elm, etc.)

Timeline and MilestonesTimeline and Milestones

Fall 2008 Winter 2009 Spring 2009 Summer 2009

Field Evaluation

Public Workshop 1

Public Workshop 2

Public Workshop 3

Public Workshop 4

Historical Trend

Assessment

High Flow Field

Evaluation

Identify Improvement Projects

Draft and Final

Mgt. Plans

Riparian Corridor Concerns:Riparian Corridor Concerns:• Trespass “corridors,” signage• Flooding• Bank erosion/property loss• Debris blockages/damage to

infrastructure • General safety

concerns

YOUR INPUT IS IMPORTANT!YOUR INPUT IS IMPORTANT!• Identify issues and

concerns that are important to you.

• What riparian functions are the highest priority to you?

• What changes have you observed on the creek?

• Suggest goals, objectives, and actions that should be implemented.

• Ask project staff questions.

Ways to Comment and Ways to Comment and ParticipateParticipate• Workshop Response Form

• SLC DPU Website (www.slch20.com)

• Access Permission Form

• Contact SLC DPU: Florence Reynolds 801-483-6864 florence.reynolds @slcgov.com

Limited Access PermissionLimited Access Permission

• We need your help!

• Fill out a limited access permission form.

• BIO-WEST personnel will contact you.

• Your help enables us to more thoroughly assess the riparian corridors.

THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING!PARTICIPATING!BIO-WEST Contacts:BIO-WEST Contacts:

Melissa StampMelissa Stamp435.881.1549435.881.1549mstamp@bio-west.commstamp@bio-west.com

Christopher SandsChristopher Sands435.752.4202435.752.4202csands@bio-west.comcsands@bio-west.com