Trout unlimited INC is seeking natural resource damage assessment and restoration nrdar funds to address instream restoration maintenance of structures degraded during high flows from last year on…

Trout unlimited INC is seeking natural resource damage assessment and restoration nrdar funds to address instream restoration maintenance of structures degraded during high flows from last year on three private parcels. These structures were some of the first habitat features installed after remedial activities were completed as part of superfund activities in the area and are essential to maintaining a connected stream corridor in the upper arkansas river valley. Proposed maintenance efforts will include stream restoration floodplain reconnection and stabilization of the river corridor through native revegetation practices that align with support of nrdar program goals. IT is imperative to conduct these maintenance activities to reduce floodings risks and potential damage to aquatic habitat. To accomplish this work TU will be working with three main private ranches as well as land and water services INC LWS who was part of the initial phases of stream restoration in the area. Land and water services would be the engineer and heavy equipment operator for work included in this agreement while TU would offer additional infield engineering services coordination reporting and project management. Examples of activities that will be part of this scope of work include in channel shaping construction of low head DAM features for irrigation and off channel diversion connection native SOD and willow transplants repurposing of existing rock into mobile bed riffle and pocket water habitat structures TOE wood maintenance and installation and repair of structures to maintain existing riparian exclusionary fencing.each property saw substantial bank instability habitat loss erosion and vegetation loss during the recent high flows. Incorporation of the above mentioned techniques will have the expected outcomes of several hundred feet of rehabilitated instream habitat and improved bank stability while also focusing on riparian vegetation recruitment on over an acre of impacted floodplain. The intended beneficiaries of this work would directly be the property owners of where these projects exist as well as native fisheries aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem populations that utilize these habitats. The surrounding community of lake county will also benefit from a more stable reach through this area that will help minimize any upstream or downstream migration of continued degradation to other reaches of the upper arkansas and lake fork river systems.