Water Drafting Specifications.pdf

Shasta-Trinity NF Water

Drafting Requirements April 2017

SHF

Water drafting withdraws water from lakes, springs or streams to fill tank trucks or trailers for the purposes of firefighting, dust abatement or for road improvement and maintenance practices. Typically drafting water requires a gravity siphon or a pump. Typically, operators pump at or near maximum rates to limit down time and to maximize volume. There is a need to recognize the potential adverse effects of pumping operations particularly during dry and critically dry years.

Even temporary use of water results in numerous concerns often related to the right to use the water, monitoring and reporting the use, and potential effects to water quality and quantity for downstream water users. Soil, water quality, and riparian resources may be impacted by permanent or temporary water source construction and use. Potential impacts include erosion and sediment delivery to waterbodies; streambank and streambed alterations; contamination from equipment leaks or spills;

changes in water temperatures; reduction in streamflow and water available to downstream users; loss of riparian vegetation; direct injury to aquatic species from pumping equipment; and transportation of eggs, larvae, and adults out of the aquatic system. Proper location and design of water sources or upgrading existing water source facilities can avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse these impacts.

National Marine and Fisheries Service (NMFS), California Fish & Wildlife Service (CDFW - formerly

DFG) and the US Forest Service have developed Best Management Practice (BMPs) for water drafting specifications that need to be followed to address environmental concerns associated with drafting. The attached 2011 requirements for pumping rates and fish screening protections may change as biological knowledge improves and/or state or federal regulations change. Present requirements from all agencies are summarized in the requirements below:

1. Draft water from sites approved by USFS. Suitable drafting sites include streams and pools with adequate flow (typically > 3 cfs and deeper that 1 ft.) that are in locations that minimize disturbance to the riparian area and streambanks and erosion and sedimentation to the extent practicable. Avoid drafting from sites with low flow and small, isolated pools.

a. Draft from existing roads and bridges to the extent practicable to avoid creating new access roads.

b. Use existing hardened facilities, such as boat launches and campground access roads, for emergency or other short-term uses rather than native surface areas prone to erosion.

c. Locate facilities to minimize potential damage from streamflows.

d. Limit the size of the facility drafting footprint (area of bare soil with reduced infiltration capacity) to the minimum necessary for efficient operations to the extent practicable.

e. Minimize hydrologic connectivity with the waterbody to the extent practicable by providing a suitable vegetated filter strip, and direct flow from road to flow away from the waterbody.

f. Modify vehicle access and turnaround areas to minimize the disturbance footprint within the most sensitive areas of the Aquatic Management Zone (AMZ).

g. Use suitable measures to minimize streambank alteration and excavation activity within the streambed to the extent practicable while providing an adequate area for water drafting.

2. If a collection system (spring box or small dam to increase head) is needed design it to avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects to the spring development and downstream waters from excessive water withdrawal, freezing, flooding, sedimentation, contamination, vehicular traffic, and livestock as needed.

a. Collect no more water than is sufficient to meet the intended purpose of the spring development.

b. Ensure that enough water remains in the spring to support the source groundwater dependent ecosystem and downstream aquatic ecosystems.

c. Avoid or minimize sediment or bacteria from entering the water supply system.

d. Trap and remove sediment that does enter the system.

e. Intercept the spring flow below the ground surface upslope of where the water surfaces.

f. Size the spring box sufficient to store expected volume of sediment generated between maintenance intervals and enough water for efficient operation of the system, and to provide access for maintenance and cleaning.

g. Avoid or minimize backing up of spring flow by providing overflow relief sized to carry the maximum flow expected from the spring during periods of wet weather.

h. Use suitable measures to avoid or minimize erosion at the overflow outlet.

i. Maintain fish and wildlife access to water released below the spring development to the extent practicable.

j. Periodically monitor and promptly take corrective action for sediment buildup clogging of outlet and overflow pipes, diversion of surface water from the collection area and spring box, erosion from overflow pipes, and damage from animals.

3. CDFW shall be notified in writing pursuant to FGC 1602 prior to water drafting. All water drafting activities shall be authorized from USFS & CDFW.

4. Water drafting operators are required to keep a water diversion log on the water truck which records the operator’s name, date, time, location, pump rate, filling time, screen cleaning and inspection, and bypass flow from the source stream. An optional “Drafting Water Use Log Form” is attached for convenience.

5. Surface the road approaches to drafting sites on streams with rock or other suitable material to avoid rutting or gullying due to hauling over wet soils with excessive loads as well as to reduce sediment-carrying runoff from rainfall, spilling or overfilling.

6. Follow the latest, updated “Water Drafting Specifications” by NMFS and “Guidelines for

Temporary Water Drafting from Watersheds Supporting Anadromous Salmonids” by DFG.

Attached are copies of 2011 direction from these agencies summarized below.

7. Conduct operations to minimize the risk of contamination from spills or leaks of fuel or other petroleum products to avoid adverse effects to aquatic species and habitats.

a. Consider the use of portable basin/ barrier/ absorbency pads to house pump to control potential spills from fueling or leaky equipment.

b. Consider use of an absorbency pad around fuel tank intake to catch splash of fuel

(disposable diapers can effectively catch the splash)

c. Use applicable practices of) to manage contamination from spills or leaks.

8. Pumping operations need to meet the following requirements for resource protection:

a. Avoid or minimize effects to the waterbody or aquifer by withdrawing only the minimum amount of water sufficient to achieve administrative or resource management needs.

b. Instantaneous pumping/diversion rates are less than 350 gallons per minute (0.78 cfs).

c. Bypass stream flows shall always exceed 2 cubic feet per second for fish bearing streams.

d. Stream flow will not be reduced by more than 10% of the total natural flow for fish bearing streams and no more than 50% for non-fish bearing perennial streams, intermittent and ephemeral streams.1

e. Pool volumes at the water drafting site are reduced by no more than 10%.

f. Bypass flow depth will provide adequate flow to allow unimpeded fish migration.

g. Fish will not be left stranded in isolated pools or with flows inadequate to avoid typical predation.

h. Limit drafting operations to daylight hours to avoid attracting fish to the drafting pool.

9. Fish screens will be utilized to prevent the entrainment or impingement of all life stages of fish or amphibians and to minimize adverse alterations to stream habitat. The velocity of water through the screen openings is based on the size of screen proportional to diversion rate. The screen mesh size options that meet the criteria are:

a. Round openings - maximum 3/32 inch diameter (.09 inch)

b. Square openings - maximum 3/32 inch diagonal (.09 inch)

c. Slotted openings - maximum 1/16 inch width (.07 inch)

10. Proper use of fish screens includes the following:

a. Orient the screen face parallel to flow for best screening performance.

b. The approach velocity shall not exceed 0.33 cubic feet per second at any point on the screen surface.

c. Submerge the screen below the water surface, with clearance above and below of at least one screen-height.

d. Clean the screen to be free of accumulated algae, leaves or other debris which could block portions of the screen surface and increase approach velocities at any point on the screen.

e. Frequently inspect to assure that the screen is maintained in good condition.

f. Replace screen as necessary to insure proper function.

g. Repair or restore temporary sources to their pre-use condition to the extent practicable before project completion.

h. Apply suitable seasonal protection measures to temporary sources if use extends past a single season.

11. Reclaim water use sites when no longer needed.

12. Be prepared to document monitoring of attainment of these requirements. USFS is required to demonstrate implementation, and effectiveness monitoring to the Water Quality Control Boards and is also required to report water use from National Forest System Lands to the California

Department of Water Resources. The attached Water Use Forms and Monitoring Summaries from BMP forms will provide the information needed to meet those monitoring and reporting requirements.

13. Ensure that water drafting operators are competent to meet drafting, monitoring and reporting requirements. Training can be made available by USFS, DFG, NMFS, or other appropriate entity to meet the above requirements.

1 Shasta-Trinity NF LRMP 1994, Standards and Guidelines, P. 4-25, 18. Soils and Water .

National BMP Monitoring - Water Uses C

Key Monitoring Elements

Water-drafting is a short-duration, small-pump operation that withdraws water from streams or impoundments to fill conventional tank trucks or trailers. Usually, this water is used to control road dust, or for wildfire management.2

Short term water drafting is also used to temporarily de-water a construction site, or to temporarily divert water around a construction site.

The specifications below are given primarily for the protection of juvenile anadromous salmonids, in waters where they are known to exist; but they also may be applied to protect a host of other aquatic organisms as well. The issue of sufficient in-stream flow for life support of the aquatic ecosystem should be addressed by a local Fish & Game biologist. Temporal and cumulative effects should be considered on a watershed scale. While we give some guidelines in that area, the actual impact of water drafting on stream ecology should be assessed and monitored at the local level by qualified personnel.

The main focus of this guidance is the construction, operation, and maintenance of a fish screen module(s) that must be installed at the in-stream end of the drafting hose to protect small salmon and steelhead fry from being entrained in the hose, or impinged on the surface of the screen. The specifications are based on the critical Approach velocity at the screen surface3, and a recognition that many temporary screens will not be outfitted with automatic cleaning devices to remove debris buildup. Since it is difficult to measure water velocities in the field, only the construction, pumping capacities, and operations are specified. Variances from these specifications may be considered, but only on a case-by-case basis.

1. Operations are restricted to one hour after sunrise to one hour before sunset.4

2. Pumping rate shall not exceed 350 gallons per minute.

3. The pumping rate shall not exceed ten percent of the stream flow.5

4. Seek streams and pools where water is deep and flowing, as opposed to streams with low flow and small isolated pools.

2 In case of emergency wildfire, where human life is in danger, the operator may disregard the screening requirement if a suitable screen is not immediately accessible.

3 Approach velocity is the horizontal velocity vector component, typically measured at a distance of 3 inches from the screen face.

4 Restricting operations to daylight-only prevents the use of lights that will attract fish to the drafting pool 5 Restricting drafting to ten percent of the stream flow provides adequate downstream flow to support fish, aquatic insects, amphibians, and other biota. Ten percent of flow may be estimated by pump operators. If larger pumping volumes are needed, or if the pumping application is continuous, refer to http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat.htm and review addendum for small pump intakes

WATER-DRAFTING

SPECIFICATIONS

National Marine Fish Service Southwest

Region August 2001 http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat.htm

5. Pumping shall be terminated when the tank is full. The effect of single pumping operations, or multiple pumping operations at the same location, shall not result in obvious draw-down of either upstream or downstream pools.

6. Each pumping operation shall use a fish screen. The screen face should be oriented parallel to flow for best screening performance. The screen shall be designed and used such that it can be submerged with at least one-screen-height-clearance above and below the screen.

7. Operators shall keep a log on the truck containing the following information: Operators Name, Date, Time, Pump Rate, Filling Time, Screen Cleaned (Y or N), Screen Condition, Comments. These guidelines should be included as instructions in a logbook with serially numbered pages. This assures each truck operator easy access to this information.

Screen Construction Criteria

1. Surface Area The total (unobstructed) surface area of the screen shall be at least 2.5 square feet, based on the upper limit of pumping of 350 gpm . Larger surface areas are recommended where debris buildup is anticipated, and where stream depth is adequate to keep the screen submerged at approximately mid-depth.

2. Screen Mesh Screen Mesh must be in good repair and present a sealed, positive barrier- effectively preventing entry of the Adesign fish@ into the intake. The design fish in this case is an immature (20-30mm) salmon or steelhead fry.

The screen mesh size shall be:

• Round openings - maximum 3/32 inch diameter (.09 inch)

• Square openings - maximum 3/32 inch diagonal (.09 inch)

• Slotted openings - maximum 1/16 inch width (.07 inch)

3. Screen Design

Water drafting screens may be off-the-shelf products, but they are often custom-made devices appropriate to the scale and duration of pumping operation. To keep the screen supported and correctly positioned in the water column, adjustable support legs are advised. Screen geometry can be configured either as rectangular or cylindrical, i.e. - as a shallow box-shape or tubular. The intake structure shall be designed to promote uniform velocity distribution at all external mesh surfaces. This can be accomplished with a simple internal baffle device that distributes the flow evenly across the entire surface of the screen. In order to accomplish this, the designer needs to understand the hydraulic characteristics of these devices. There is a tendency for most of the intake water to enter the screen near the hose end, so a typical internal baffle would consist of a pipe (or a manifolded set of pipes)

WATER-DRAFTING

SPECIFICATIONS Continued

National Marine Fish Service Southwest

Region which have variable porosity holes at predetermined spacing. We recommend starting near the hose end with approximately 5-10% average open area, and gradually increasing the porosity toward the length of the screen. At a point where screen length exceeds three times the diameter of the suction hose, the baffling effect tends to diminish rapidly. At this point the baffle porosity may approach

100%. A successful baffle system will functionally distribute flow to all areas of the screen. A poorly designed screen may result in high-velocity hot spots, which could lead to fish impingement on the screen face. Hydraulic testing of prototype screen designs is recommended where the application is on-going and extensive.

4. Screen Structure The screen frame must be strong enough to withstand the hydraulic forces it will experience.

However, structural frames, braces, and other elements that block the flow, change flow direction, or otherwise decrease the screen surface area should be minimized.

5. Screen Cleaning The screen shall be cleaned as often as necessary to prevent approach velocity from exceeding

0.33 feet per second. Operators should withdraw the screen and clean it after each use, or as necessary to keep screen face free of debris. Pumping should stop for screen cleaning when approximately fifteen percent or more of the screen area is occluded by debris. A suitable brush shall be on board the truck for this cleaning operation.

If the operator notes (a) impingement of any juvenile fish on the screen face or (b) entrainment of any fish through the screen mesh, he/she should stop operations and notify the Department of Fish &

Game and/or NMFS hydraulic engineering staff:

National Marine Fisheries Service

Engineering Section

777 Sonoma Avenue, Suite 325 Santa

Rosa, CA. 95404

(707) 575-6050

Rebecca Lent, Ph.D.

Regional Administrator

WATER-DRAFTING

SPECIFICATIONS Continued

National Marine Fish Service Southwest

Region

Shasta Trinity National Forest – Water Drafting Specifications

The purpose of this paper is to provide concise and updated criteria for protecting anadromous salmonids from impacts associated with water drafting. Criteria in this report are directed at anyone responsible for operating, permitting or overseeing small, temporary water diversion projects associated with timber harvest activities in coastal timberlands supporting salmon, steelhead or other important aquatic resources. Information in this report may not be applicable to water diversion projects in other locations. Criteria in this paper may change as a result of improved biological knowledge and/or changes associated with state or federal regulation.

Laws and policies governing the Department of Fish and Game (Department) in this matter include Section 1600 et seq. and Section 6100 of the Fish and Game Code, Section 703 of the Fish and Game Code (specifically the policies identified as “Salmon”, “Steelhead

Rainbow Trout”, “Endangered and Threatened Species”, “Water”, and the “Joint Policy

Statement on Coho Salmon” between the California State Board of Forestry and the California

Fish and Game Commission). Fish and Game Code Section 1600 et seq. requires that the

Department enter into an agreement with a person proposing to, among other actions, substantially divert or obstruct the natural flow of a river, stream, or lake. This includes water drafting. Applications can be obtained from a Department office.

Streams and rivers are used as water sources for timber harvest operations in coastal

California. Water is used by itself or in combination with additives to minimize dust and improve running conditions on unpaved roads. Watering roads for dust abatement is often an enforceable condition for approved timber harvest plans. In addition to roads, water may be used in conjunction with controlled burns, wildfire suppression and watering for revegetation projects.

The typical water drafting system for a timber harvest operation involves a truck outfitted with a three to four thousand gallon storage tank, a truck-mounted centrifugal pump and an extendable intake hose. Pools are often targeted for diversion sites because they have sufficient volume to permit high diversion rates. Operators often pump at or near maximum rates to limit down time, thereby maximizing the amount of road surface that can be watered in a given period. To prevent damage to the pump, operators avoid entraining rocks or air during pumping. Typically, an operator will back next to or pull alongside a pool, position a hose with the intake end near the bottom of a pool and commence pumping. Depending on the size and

DRAFT

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Resources Agency Department of Fish and Game

Guidelines for Temporary Water Drafting from

Watersheds Supporting Anadromous Salmonids;

Special Application for Timber Harvest Activities by

Richard Macedo

Timberland Resources Program

Central Coast Region

November 16, 2001 condition of the pump, an operator may fill a four thousand gallon water truck in 10 to 20 minutes. For most systems, the drafting rate can be adjusted.

The following three variables should be considered when designing a small, portable water drafting operation; 1) screen size, 2) approach velocity and 3) diversion rate.

The following criteria for screen size, approach velocity and diversion rate are designed to protect fry-size salmonids from water diversion activities in California’s timberlands. Use of these criteria may protect other species which occupy the same streams and lakes.

Screen Mesh Size: Openings in perforated plate and woven wire screens shall not exceed 3/32 inches (2.38 millimeters). Slot opening in wedge wire screens shall not exceed 1.75 mm.

To prevent entrainment of fish during water diversion, the pump intake shall be fitted with screen made of woven mesh, perforated plate, wedge wire, or other durable fabric. The screen medium shall be able to withstand forces related to pumping and be of sufficient size to prevent small fish from entering the intake and being pumped along with diverted water.

Approach Velocity: The velocity of water across the screen surface shall not exceed 0.33 feet/second at any point on the screen surface. To achieve this standard, the screen shall be kept clean and free of accumulated algae, leaves or other debris which could block portions of the screen surface and increase approach velocities at any point on the screen. The screen shall be supported above the bed of the streams so that no part of the screen surface is obstructed. Water truck operators shall move drafting hoses with attached screens in and out of the water after each drafting operation. The screen should be brushed clean and inspected each time it is placed into the water. This practice will usually prevent screens from accumulating significant amounts of debris and essentially replicate the function of a self-cleaning screen. Where a stationary pump is used, the screen should be checked frequently to ensure it is kept clean and free of debris. For screens where regular cleaning cannot be guaranteed, the approach velocity across the screen surface shall not exceed 0.0825 feet/second at any point on the screen.

Diversion Rate: Water drafting may cause adverse impacts to juvenile salmonids if flow in source streams is reduced to insufficient levels. For these cases, a specific water drafting plan shall be developed. Concerns over impacts caused by reduced flows and the subsequent need for a water drafting plan may not be necessary if the proposed water diversion conforms to all of the following standards:

Guidelines for Temporary Water Drafting from

Watersheds Supporting Anadromous Salmonids;

Special Application for Timber Harvest Activities

Continued

a. Flow in the source stream during water drafting will remain at 2.0 feet3/second or greater, and

b. If diverting from a pool, reduction in pool volume will not exceed 10 percent, and

c. Diversion rate will not exceed 10 percent of the surface flow from the source stream, and

d. Instantaneous diversion rate is less than 350 gallons per minute (0.78 feet3/second)

For water diversion projects that will not meet criteria a through d above, a water drafting plan shall be prepared and approved by the Department through an Agreement pursuant to Section 1600 et seq. of the Fish and Game Code. This plan shall include the following:

1. Determine the instantaneous flow reduction and duration of reduction from the source stream.

2. Disclose potential impacts associated with both the instantaneous flow reduction and cumulative flow reduction and total volume removed from the source stream.

3. Identify proposed recommendations for minimizing adverse impacts such as a reduced hose diameter, decrease in pumping rates, use of alternative sites and/or restrict number of water withdraws from one location.

4. Require operators to maintain a water diversion log which records the date, time, pump rate, filling time, screen cleaning and inspection, and bypass flow from the source stream.

5. Conduct a pre-operations briefing with personnel who will be operating water drafting equipment and charged with compliance of the water diversion plan.

Additional Considerations:

While outside the scope of this report, standards for protecting anadromous salmonids may also be sufficient for protecting other species of fish, amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates.

These considerations should be made on a case-by-case and species-by-species bases.

In certain situations and at specific sites, the requirement for screen and approach velocity criteria may be disregarded if an approved watering hole or sump is constructed adjacent to a stream or river. Large gravel bars adjacent to streams may be appropriate sites for constructing temporary water drafting holes. Unaltered sections of the gravel bar which lie between the watering hole and the flowing stream may provide the functional equivalent of a screen. In addition, approach velocities along the gravel bar must meet Department standards

(e.g. < 0.33 feet/second for fry-size fish). Construction and use of these watering holes will

Guidelines for Temporary Water Drafting from

Watersheds Supporting Anadromous Salmonids;

be restricted to summer periods when storms and increasing stream flows are uncommon.

Pursuant to Section 1600 et seq. of the Fish and Game Code, construction and use of watering holes will likely require a Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement.

Example for Calculating Surface Area for Intake Screens:

The purpose of this example is to outline steps for calculating the appropriate screen surface area necessary to meet Department guidelines for approach velocities.

Scenario: A water drafting operation will use a 4,000 gallon truck to divert water from a small stream which supports fry-size salmon and steelhead. At the maximum rate, the truck can be filled in 15 minutes. Calculate the surface area of screen necessary to comply with Department guidelines for approach velocities not to exceed 0.33 feet/second.

Step 1: Calculate diversion rate in gallons per minute (gpm) with the pump running at full capacity.

4,000 gallons = 266.7 gpm

15 minutes

Step 2: Convert diversion rate from gpm to feet /second (cfs). Note, to covert gpm to cfs, multiple the gpm figure by 0.00223.

266.7 gpm X 0.00223 = 0.59 cfs

Step 3: Using the maximum acceptable approach velocity of 0.33 feet/second, calculate how much surface area of screen is needed for a diversion rate of 0.59 cfs.

0.59 feet /second = 1.79 feet

(square feet)

0.33 feet/second

Answer: For this example, a screen surface area of 1.79 square feet or larger will satisfy the

Department’s standard for approach velocity.

Guidelines for Temporary Water Drafting from

Watersheds Supporting Anadromous Salmonids;