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June 30, 2008
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Welcome
to the newsletter about all things water in Montana!
MONTANA
WATER NEWS will come your way via email every month
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| Portable Irrigation Diversion Blocks Improve Stream Function |
Tom Hughes,
DNRC Hydrologist |
Tom Hughes is a hydrologist with the DNRC Trust Lands Division. Tom developed the stream block irrigation diversions widely used around the state as an alternative to irrigation dams constructed with native stream gravels and more permanent irrigation dams constructed with heavy quarry rock. The pre-cast concrete blocks are placed on the stream bed after high water and taken out in the fall at the end of the irrigation season. As a Land Resources & Environmental Sciences graduate student at Montana State University, Hughes worked with Dr. Joel Calhoon and fellow graduate student Paul Sanford on a modeling project using the portable irrigation diversion blocks. The work was published in the AWRA Journal.
Currently, Tom is developing new restoration techniques using the concrete blocks with funding from a Federal Highways research grant. This method restores eroding stream banks without the use of large quarry rocks for riprap and weirs. This is a bioengineered system that relies on vegetation to maintain the restored stream or river bank rather than rock.
Q: You began studying the possibilities of using removable concrete blocks as a stream restoration tool when you were a graduate student at MSU. In your work with and observation of natural stream hydrology, how have these temporary structures improved natural stream function?
A: I had the opportunity to look at many river restoration and stabilization projects that use large rock to construct riprap and instream weirs. Many of these projects have not performed well, and in many cases adversely impacted streams above and below these projects. Streams continually make channel adjustments so we need to develop restoration techniques that allow streams to adjust. The stream restoration techniques I use involve understanding how stream processes work and methods that minimize interference with channel-forming processes that occur during spring runoff. Stream restoration methods that are based on riparian vegetation establishment and allow for channel adjustments over time are my objectives for development of new restoration techniques using the temporary blocks. The other important objective is to provide low cost restoration techniques that working farms and ranches in Montana can afford.
18 months after restoration completed
with plantings of sandbar willows and
native grass species. The newly created
inset flood bench is a sub-irrigated
riparian wetland. |
Q: In the initial stages of this type of work, is the negative impact on the stream less or greater than using other methods commonly used today?
A: The negative impacts are far less than conventional stream stabilization using large quarry rock such as riprap. During construction, very little sediment enters the live stream channel while traditional stabilization methods produce significant amounts of stream sediment over much longer periods of time. The block restoration construction method is fast and usually does not require the use of heavy equipment in the stream channel. Topsoil and sod mats are salvaged and reused on the lowered stream bank that has been converted to a wetland flood bench. Recovery time is typically short since we have created a sub-irrigated wetland environment on the restored stream banks that receives supplemental irrigation the first growing season. There is minimal disturbance to the stream when the blocks are removed after the vegetation is established on the restores stream bank.
Restored Shields River stream bank one year after blocks were pulled. Bank is stable even with heavy livestock grazing. |
Q: Why do you feel this stream restoration technique is better than existing systems? What benefits have you observed over others?
A: The irrigation diversion blocks have been used for many years and have had the support of regulatory permitting agencies. The irrigation blocks are cost shared with local county Conservation Districts because of the minimal impacts to river channels. The use of the blocks for stream bank restoration appears to be promising but is still at the research stage. Many areas of the state do not have available supplies of quarry rock and the block restoration method provides an environmentally sound alternative to repair eroding stream banks. The block restoration method creates inset floodplains that mimics natural stream processes and adds riparian wetlands and high quality fish habitat. The restored stream banks are resistant to erosion but are still deformable allowing natural stream channel adjustments. The repair to eroding stream banks using this method produces far less sediment than conventional restoration techniques and it should be easier to acquire regulatory permits for this method. The block restoration method costs much less than other traditional restoration methods.
Q: Does removal of portable blocks used for stream restoration cause environmental damage that would not occur otherwise? If so, how do you justify it?
A: Yes, there is some impact when the blocks are removed. The impacts of removing the blocks are associated with some stream gravel disturbance but overall, this restoration process creates far less negative impacts compared to traditional stream bank stabilization methods.
Without allowing natural channel forming processes to
occur, stream banks can become deeply cut and unstable. (Left diagram.) Temporary blocks and proper re-vegetation can create a more stable bank, capable of handling both grazing and flooding without significant erosion. |
Q: You also work to improve irrigation diversion dams with concrete blocks. These are also temporary. What is some of the science that supports this method?
A: One of the most significant impacts to our river channels involves annual construction of gravel berm irrigation diversion dams with heavy equipment. These dams are constructed by scraping up stream channel cobble with bulldozers and excavators, and the dams often require repairs during an irrigation season. Temporary irrigation diversion blocks have been used to replace this practice on many rivers in Montana. The other common method to construct irrigation diversion dams is with the use of large rock imported from rock quarries. Permanent rock dams create impacts since they often block bedload from moving through the site during high water. This gravel bedload fills the channel behind the permanent rock dams causing channel changes at the irrigation diversion site. The portable blocks are placed on the streambed at low stream flows in July and August after channel forming processes have occurred during spring runoff. The diversion blocks are removed from the stream channel at the end of the irrigation season. Minimal impacts to the stream channel occur using the temporary blocks and this system helps maintain a healthy stream channel at the diversion site. The blocks are used in a wing dam configuration to improve recreational floater passage and fish passage around the diversion site. |
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25th Annual Meeting of the
Montana AWRA Conference
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| Call for Abstracts!
The 25th Annual Conference of the Montana Section of the American Water Resources Association will be October 2 & 3, 2008 in Big Sky, Montana at the Huntley Lodge.
The Montana AWRA is requesting abstracts for oral and poster presentations for its 25th annual conference. Abstract submission deadline is Monday, June 30. Please submit your abstract electronically at http://water.montana.edu/awra/abstracts/default.asp.
Oral presentations are limited to 20 minutes, including questions and answers. Or, you may present a poster at the Thursday evening poster session at the social hour. Please indicate your preference of either an oral presentation or a poster on the abstract submission site. Questions? Call 994-1772 or email water@montana.edu.
Conference Sponsorship Opportunity
Nearly 200 scientists, natural resource managers, students and guests will be in attendance. Collectively, this group contributes greatly to the scientific and public knowledge necessary to sustainably manage water resources and water delivery systems throughout the state of Montana.
If your company or organization wants to help sponsor the conference, there are refreshments, meals, student sponsorships and a field trip you can help support. Sponsorships range from $250 to $1,000. Your company or organization will receive multiple types of recognition at the conference, in attendee registration packets, as well as in our publications and on the conference website. For more information, contact Steve at sguettermann@montana.edu or 994-1772. |
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| Senator Tester Introduces Water Bill |
| On June 5, Montana Senator Jon Tester led the introduction into the United States Senate of S. 3085, the Cooperative Watershed Act of 2008. In his introductory remarks, Senator Tester said, “The Cooperative Watershed Act of 2008 sets up a granting program under the Department of the Interior to help local stakeholders come together and form or expand watershed-wide management groups that can cooperatively manage their local water resources. The funds in this bill will help these groups build the capacity to act as grassroots, nonregulatory entities to address local water availability and quality issues within a watershed.” The full text of the remarks and the draft bill can be viewed on the THOMAS website at http://thomas.loc.gov/. The bill is co-sponsored by Senators Baucus, Crapo and Craig. |
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| Montana DEQ Announces Mini-Grants |
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Montana DEQ is seeking applicants for mini-grants of exactly $1,500 to fund local education and outreach efforts that address water quality and nonpoint source pollution issues.
Successful projects will focus on an activity addressing water resource needs. Projects must address larger watershed efforts in the applicant's region. The project applicant can be a local watershed group (if a legal entity), conservation district, county extension service, school, etc. and must have the ability to manage federal funding.
Applications are accepted during two rounds in State Fiscal Year 2009 (July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009). The first round began on June 1, 2008 and awards will be made by July 31, 2008. The second round will begin on January 1, 2009 with applications due by February 2, 2009. Awards will be made by February 27, 2009.
The Call for Mini-Grant is at
http://deq.mt.gov/wqinfo/nonpoint/Grants/2009_Call_for_Mini-Grants.pdf.
The Mini-Grant Application can be found here at
http://deq.mt.gov/wqinfo/nonpoint/Grants/Mini-Grant_Application.pdf. |
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| River Center Conference |
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The 2008 River Center Conference will be held September 25 and 26, 2008 on the campus of The University of Montana. The title of this year's conference is “Managing and Restoring Human-Manipulated Large River Ecosystems”. The details of the conference will be updated every so often at http://www.umt.edu/rivercenter.
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| Environmental Quality Council Updates |
| Recently and in conjunction with its climate change study, the Montana Legislative Environmental Quality Council directed staff to develop a series of discussion drafts, letters and reports. A list of the EQC Draft Climate Change Proposals, which staff will continue to work on, is now available on the EQC website. http://leg.mt.gov/css/lepo/2007_2008/default.asp.
The EQC is also soliciting public comments on its draft conservation easements report. The deadline for public comment is June 30, 2008. The report is available at http://leg.mt.gov/content/publications/lepo/2008hj57draft2.pdf
The next EQC meeting will be in Helena July 14 and 15. The council will review and further refine information from past meetings. For more information contact Sonja Nowakowski at 444-3078 or snowakowski@mt.gov. |
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| Volunteer Water Quality Monitors Needed |
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The Greater Gallatin Watershed Council (GGWC) is looking for summer volunteers who will be trained to monitor three streams that flow through the Gallatin watershed. Each stream will be sampled monthly for four consecutive months with the collected information used to help build a base for localized long-term analysis. The program will also provide volunteers with an opportunity to learn about water quality in streams within the Gallatin watershed.
For more information, contact Sharlyn Gunderson-Izurieta, Watershed Coordinator, Greater Gallatin Watershed Council, at 219-3739 or info@greatergallatin.org. |
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| U.S. Climate Change Science Program Releases Report |
The U.S. Climate Change Science Program recently released a report titled, "The Effects of Climate Change on Agriculture, Land Resources, Water Resources, and Biodiversity in the United States." The report is one of the most extensive examinations of climate impacts on U.S. ecosystems. It provides practical information that will help land owners and resource managers make better decisions to address the risks of climate change. It can be downloaded at http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/sap/sap4-3/
final-report/default.htm. |
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| WaterWired |
| A good water resource to bookmark is Dr. Michael Campana's blog WaterWired. Michael is director of the Institute for Water and Watersheds at Oregon State University. The blog’s address is http://aquadoc.typepad.com/waterwired. The institute’s H20SU newsletter can also be accessed from this site. |
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Do
you have more news?
The Montana Water Center News welcomes your stories about water and water issues that face Montana. If you have a short story you would like to see published in this newsletter, please send your information to water@montana.edu. |
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Take
special note of upcoming national and local water meetings
on the Events
Calendar at MONTANA WATER. |
 Willow Ecology & Riparian Restoration Workshops, July 8 - 10, 2008 [INFO] |
Stream Restoration Short Courses, Logan, UT, July 16 - 20, 2008 [INFO] |
Drought Advisory Committee Meeting, Helena, July 17, 2008 [INFO] |
2008 UCOWR/NIWR Annual Conference, Durham, NC, July 22 - 24, 2008 [INFO] |
GPS/GIS Seminar, Miles City, July 25, 2008 [INFO] |
Drought Advisory Committee Meeting, Helena, August 14, 2008 [INFO] |
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