Final_Schaake_Revegetation_Plan_v2_070924_Amd_2_0002.pdf

Schaake Habitat Improvement

Project

Final Revegetation Plan

July 10, 2024

United States Department of Interior Bureau of Reclamation Pacific Northwest Region Boise, Idaho

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

Revegetation Goals and Objective

Approach

Site Description

Revegetation Types

Revegetation Planning / Project Schedule

Selection of Plant Materials

Site Preparation for Grass Seeding

Weed Control

Seed Bed Preparation

Grass Seeding Methods

Site Preparation for Live Plant Installation

Weed Control

Reed Canary Grass

Additional Species

Installation of Live Plant Materials

Planting Design

Planting Specifications

Monitoring/Adaptive Management

Qualitative Monitoring/Adaptive Management

Photo Monitoring

Quantitative Monitoring

Performance Criteria

Reporting

References

LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES

Table 1. Listed Noxious Species Observed Within the Project Area

Table 2. Revegetation Area Types

Figure 1. Revegetation Types- Adapted from Hoag, Berg & Sampson, 2001

Figure 2. Revegetation Treatment Identification Areas and Associated Identification Numbers

Figure 3. Live Plant Material Installation Specifications

Figure 4. Planting Specifications for Container Plants

Table 3. Plant Materials Schedule- Grass Seed & Live Plants

1 Schaake Habitat Improvement Project Revegetation Plan

Revegetation Goals and Objective Revegetation is integral to the overall success of the Schaake Habitat Improvement Project and secures previous Project investments. Replanting disturbed areas establishes root systems which will capture sediment, deflect flow, and provide flood water retention. These root systems are “risk management” and will become primary components of erosion control. Revegetation is also critical to weed management, water quality as well as increasing cover and shade for wildlife and healthy ecosystems.

The revegetation goal for this Project is to restore and enhance salmonid, riparian and upland habitat by initiating native vegetation succession. The objective is to obtain 50% native herbaceous and/or 70% native woody cover in year three. Treatments include restoration and preservation of existing native plant species, control of invasive species (to the extent practical) including measures to control existing.

non-native woody vegetation (I.e., crack willow/Salix fragilis), erosion control and measures to address degraded soil conditions as necessary.

Approach To accomplish the revegetation objective, the overall approach is to establish an understory of native grasses that will outcompete weed populations. Once the grasses are established, trees and shrubs will be installed where appropriate to create an overstory.

Some areas will be augmented with trees and shrubs to enhance the riparian habitat buffer and will not be seeded with native grass. These areas will not undergo a full chemical fallow process but will be augmented with native live plantings. These plantings will increase the rate at which desired species become established and in turn reduce reed canary grass populations present on site.

Site Description The property was originally purchased by Edwin Schaake in 1929 and over the years was developed in stages to support beef packing plant and feedlot operations. This development eventually included warehouses, water treatment lagoons, cattle pins, and feed storage sites. Beef packing operations ceased in 1988 and feedlot operations ended in 1999 with the retirement of Paul Schaake.

Most of the infrastructure was dismantled prior to the sale to the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) in 2003. Today, the legacy of this operation is compacted soils, high soil nutrients from decomposed cattle manure and waste treatment as well as numerous non-native species that have colonized the site over the last 15 years.

Vegetation within the Project site is characterized primarily as weedy. Of the 117 species recorded on the site, 56 are non-native. Of the 56 non-native species observed within the Project site, 17 are listed as noxious weeds (Table 1). For a full plant list, refer to the Site Assessment and Evaluation Report

(Mariposa Restoration Services, 2018).

For more detailed information regarding Site Characteristics and Conditions, refer to the Site

Assessment and Evaluation Report (Mariposa Restoration Services, 2018) as well as the Basis of Design

Report- 30 percent Design (CH2M Hill, Inc., 2015), specifically sections 1.5.2 and 3.2.

2 Schaake Habitat Improvement Project Revegetation Plan

Table 1. Listed Noxious Species Observed Within the Project Area

Revegetation Types Seven revegetation types have been identified within the Project area and total approximately 156 acres (Table 2, Figure 2). These revegetation types were derived from information obtained via return interval hydraulic modeling, ground water information and soil sample data. The revegetation types in the planting area for this contract will be the Lower Transition and Upper Transition revegetation areas.

The planting plan is based on riparian planting zones, the capillary fringe and water tables (Figure 1).

Plant material includes grass seed, wetland sod, containerized plants, and unrooted cuttings.

Table 2. Revegetation Area Types

Revegetation Areas

Type Acres

Wetland 0.2

Lower Transitional 24.7

Upper Transitional 5.4

Total 30.3

Within these different revegetation areas current and past land use varies and dictates different treatments. Portions of these revegetation areas are in production with rhizomatous grasses, other areas are highly compacted due to access routes and past land use. Additional areas will be disturbed during construction (including portions of the chemical fallow area). All these areas will be revegetated to reduce erosion potential, restore native vegetation communities, and enhance habitat corridors along Wilson Creek and Tjossem Ditch.

3 Schaake Habitat Improvement Project Revegetation Plan

Figure 1. Revegetation Types- Adapted from Hoag, Berg & Sampson, 2001.

Revegetation Planning / Project Schedule Revegetation will involve several stages of preparation and planting. Figure 2 should be referenced for each treatment area identification number. Specific restoration timelines are dictated upon whether the area has been under chem-fallow, is newly disturbed, or is being enhanced with additional plantings.

Restoration timelines hinge on live plant material grow out, proper site preparation for successful seeding and development of the seeded native grass stand prior to installation of live plant material. As a result, live plantings will occur in stages throughout the course of the Project. Monitoring timelines will also be staged, pushing the Project out through 2027.

The acreage will need to go through various weed control treatments before planting occurs.

Selection of Plant Materials Selection of plant species for this Project were derived from local reference areas nearby in the Yakima floodplain and are associated with the Major Land Resource Area 8, Columbia Plateau. Reference communities are located north and south of the Project area along the Yakima River and are like the

Project site in terms of flow, gradient, annual precipitation and elevation. Due to the dominance of invasive species observed within the surrounding area, native plant species that can form dense stands and out-compete non-native species were selected. A detailed list of species to be utilized is provided in the Plant Materials Schedule (Table 3).

4 Schaake Habitat Improvement Project Revegetation Plan

Figure 2. Revegetation Treatment Identification Areas and Associated Identification Numbers.

5 Schaake Habitat Improvement Project Revegetation Plan

Seed used for this Project shall be locally adapted to establish self-sustaining populations over time. All seed and plant stock for this Project shall be obtained from the 20-25° F/6-12 seed zone as defined by

United States Forest Service’s seed zone mapper. Zone mapping and methodologies are available online at: https://www.fs.fed.us/wwetac/threat-map/TRMSeedZoneMapper.php. To an extent practical, native vegetation that is being removed during implementation will be replanted within the Project.

At least one year (if seed collection is required, 1.5 years) prior to planting, the Contractor shall submit documentation of the source of plant materials. Substitutions of plant material, species or variety may be permitted upon written approval by the Reclamation Project Manager. Live plants will be healthy and in vigorous growing condition and be guaranteed true to size, name, and variety. Except for live willow stakes collected from appropriate areas, plants will be nursery grown, well‐rooted, of normal growth and habit and free from disease, infestation, or damage. Plant material with damaged root zones or broken root balls will not be accepted.

Site Preparation for Grass Seeding Due to the preponderance of non-native and noxious vegetation that currently exists on the Project site, the following aggressive weed control measures should take place.

1) Prior to seeding, a chemical fallow of two growing seasons is requested for areas that are not currently under chemical fallow. This shall occur only where the water table is sufficiently low enough to allow equipment access.

2) Broadleaf-selective herbicide applications and spot applications of noxious weeds should continue for two growing seasons prior to planting trees and shrubs. This approach allows for a native grass understory to develop and displace existing weed species prior to live plant installation.

Weed Control Invasive species management is a critical component to ensure the success of revegetation efforts. The

Contractor will be responsible for reducing the weed seed bank where grass seed is to be planted as well as post planting broadleaf weed control to ensure a healthy vigorous stand. A proposed herbicide guideline for weed control that includes chemicals to be used, rates and timing of each treatment shall be submitted with the Contractor’s bid. All proposed chemicals in the herbicide guideline must be accepted under the Army Corps of Engineers Biological Opinion. Please note that conventional agricultural post-planting broadleaf weed control can often negatively impact the vigor of native grass seedlings. The spray schedule should address the sensitivities of native grass seedlings. The Contractor should be aware that timing of these sprays is important, and rates will vary based on growth stage of native grass seedlings and weeds. Keep in mind that the herbicide treatment schedule will serve as a guideline and will vary based on variable soil conditions, weed growth and response to the herbicide prescription.

https://www.fs.fed.us/wwetac/threat-map/TRMSeedZoneMapper.php

6 Schaake Habitat Improvement Project Revegetation Plan

Seed Bed Preparation Continued weed control efforts will take place throughout the season to reduce the weed seed bank and ensure a successful grass stand. Once the seeding sites exhibit bare soil with minimal weed growth, are amended with topsoil and de-compacted (where applicable), sites will be harrowed to prepare the area for seeding.

Grass Seeding Methods Seed mixes and seeding rates are listed in the Plant Materials Schedule in Table 3. The preferred seeding method is drill seeding at a rate of 16 lbs./acre. Grass seed drills equipped with depth bands should be used on most of the areas to be seeded; targeted seeding depth is 1/4”-1/2”. Areas with difficult access can be harrow seeded with an ATV and pull-behind blanket harrow (or similar) with an increased seeding rate of 33 percent. Seed shall be applied in the appropriate seeding window in late fall.

Site Preparation for Live Plant Installation

Weed Control The Contractor will be responsible for reducing weed populations where live plants will be installed. All

Overbank and most Transition areas (with the exception of the spray fields and Wilson Creek Riparian

Enhancement Areas) shall have a native grass seed understory established prior to planting live materials (Table 3). Chemical control and weed treatment prescriptions are the responsibility of the

Contractor.

7 Schaake Habitat Improvement Project Revegetation Plan

An herbicide guideline for weed control that includes chemicals to be used, rates, and timing of each treatment shall be submitted to the Reclamation Project Manager with the Contractor’s bid. All proposed chemicals in the herbicide guideline must be accepted under the Army Corps of Engineers

Biological Opinion.

Reed Canary Grass

Former spray fields (areas 22, 23, 24 and 26), some Wetland sites and areas along Wilson Creek and

Tjossem ditch are currently dominated by non-native rhizomatous grasses. Species composition varies but is predominantly reed canary grass and spreading bent grass. Due to the extended fallow and tillage process required to convert such rhizomatous species to native populations, and the likelihood of reed canary grass migrating from adjacent areas, Reclamation has opted to interplant these areas with riparian trees and shrubs and retain the rhizomatous grass understory. High density installations of trees and shrubs are prescribed in these areas to establish an overstory that is expected to shade out and displace the reed canary grass, rendering it a minor component of the plant community. Additional recommended weed control measures include planting configurations for live plant material that facilitate mechanical weed control (mowing) and roll mulching.

Prior to planting, these areas shall be mechanically controlled (mowed or weed-whacked where feasible) and chemically treated. The intent of this treatment is to temporarily reduce the competitiveness of these perennial grasses, but not to achieve complete control; herbicide rates should be adjusted accordingly. To further reduce resource competition, all container trees and shrubs should be mulched. After installation, at least two grass selective herbicide treatments will take place within the riparian and wetland areas to suppress reed canary grass regrowth and allow the live plantings to flourish.

Additional Species

Houndstongue, Canada thistle, bindweed, mullein, Russian thistle, and diffuse knapweed, among other noxious weeds, are present within the Project area and will require treatment to inhibit spread (Table 1).

Herbicide use within areas that will have subsequent shrub/tree plantings should utilize spot treatments over broadcast treatment to limit the footprint of herbicides with potential soil activity.

8 Schaake Habitat Improvement Project Revegetation Plan

Installation of Live Plant Materials With the exception of the wetland sod mats, planting shall occur between October 1st and November

30th. Wetland sod should be installed just after peak spring flows when water levels are receding.

Please refer to the quantity and species of plant materials associated with each planting area in the

Plant Materials list (Table 3).

Planting Design With the exception of the unrooted cuttings that will be installed adjacent to water, the planting design for installation will rely on configurations that facilitate mechanical weed control (mowing), i.e., in rows at least 6 feet on center spacing throughout the planting areas, mixing the species randomly. Shrub species can be planted in groups of 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6. Aspen will be planted in groups of 5 trees in suitable areas. Over time, due to variable soil nutrients and moisture content throughout the site, plantings will establish and thrive in natural patterns. The planting layout should be submitted by the Contractor per planting design and approved by the Reclamation Project Manager according to the spacing and groupings indicated (Table 3). After the Reclamation Project Manager approves the Contractor’s plant layout, installation may proceed according to the following planting specifications.

Planting Specifications Willows/Live Stakes

1. Source plants for willow cuttings shall be dormant (before bud stage) when live stake cuttings are taken and planted.

2. Willow stakes should be soaked ≥ 24 hours prior to installation.

3. Create pilot hole in soil with stinger or auger. Ensure that planting hole reaches groundwater. Use hydraulic stinger in rocky soils. In wetland areas, depending on soil types, stakes may be hand planted. Install cutting into loosened soil.

4. The planting hole should be filled with moist backfill material that will make good contact with the stake, leaving no air pockets.

5. Install stake in the planting hole with at least 2 bud scars and ~1/4 of the stake extending out of the soil. Once installed, firm soil around each planting.

6. There should be on-site quality control at all times during the installation process to ensure that stakes have the best chance of establishment.

7. Site cleanup should occur daily and as each phase of the installation concludes.

Refer to Figure 3 for planting details additional to those specified above.

Container Plants

1. Due to the rocky nature of the planting sites, a small track hoe may be needed to dig holes for the live plant installation.

2. Container plants should be well watered prior to installation.

3. Containers should be removed immediately prior to installation.

4. Loosen roots and spread or cut circling roots prior to installation.

5. Install stake in the planting hole with at least 2 bud scars and -1/4 of the stake extending out of the soil. Once installed, firm soil around each planting.

9 Schaake Habitat Improvement Project Revegetation Plan

6. Fill planting hole with moist backfill material that will make good contact with roots, leaving no air pockets.

7. Once planted, firm soil around the root of each planting.

8. If sufficient soil moisture is not present at the time of planting, each container plant should receive a minimum of 2 gallons of water per plant.

9. Each container plant should receive a 3-foot by 3-foot mulch mat secured with staples. Ensure that the mat is not making contact with the plant stem.

10. There should be on site quality control at all times during the installation process to ensure that plants have the best chance of establishment.

11. Site cleanup should occur on a daily basis and as each phase of the installation concludes.

12. Over a three year period after installation, the Upper Transitional tree and shrub plantings shall be watered on a regular basis. The Reclamation Project Manager will be responsible for implementation of this task. Through qualitative monitoring, the

Contractor will identify and address any additional areas that may need supplemental watering.

13. Monitoring visits are required on a frequent basis within the first year after planting live materials to assess browse pressure on installed live plant materials. Should monitoring reveal that browse damage is occurring, anti-herbivory measures such as cages and fencing should be taken.

Refer to Figure 4 for planting details additional to those specified above.

Wetland Sod

Mats should not be installed on slopes steeper than 2.5:1. Large rocks, tree branches, very rough ground or anything that prevents root contact with the soil should be remedied prior to installation. Wetland Sod mat delivery should be scheduled to coincide with immediate installation. If mats cannot be immediately installed, they can be stored in a shady location for no more than three days and must be kept thoroughly saturated and covered (tarped) during that time. In hot, dry weather mats should be stored under the same conditions for no more than two days. If wetland sod mats can not be utilized, contractor may use wetland sod plugs.

Ideally, mats should be installed in water depths of 2 to 4 inches. After roots are well established, plants can tolerate periodic hydrologic fluctuations.

If site hydrology at the time of installation is lacking, plants will need supplemental irrigation.

Additional irrigation shall be provided during the first 3-4 weeks in order to ensure plant root establishment in surrounding soils. Conversely, if water levels are too deep at installation or during the first month after installation, the plants can die. On stream banks installation should occur just after peak flows, when water levels are gradually dropping. Supplemental irrigation may be required to fully establish the vegetation. The time required for roots to provide adequate anchoring depends on growing conditions including heat, light, and moisture.

1. Ensure that the plant roots and the bottom of the mat are in direct contact with the soil.

Space between the mat bottom and ground caused by obstacles, folds, wrinkles or upturned mat edges will create a void that will allow the root system to dry out.

2. Unroll individual mats.

10 Schaake Habitat Improvement Project Revegetation Plan

3. Use six to eight, 16” wooden stakes per mat for site conditions without erosive characteristics (i.e. wetland areas).

4. Use eight to twelve, 16” wooden stakes per mat for installations involving moving water (i.e. stream channels).

5. Drive stakes through the mat at a slight angle and leave about 4” of the stake protruding above the mat.

6. Site cleanup should occur daily basis and as each phase of the installation concludes.

Figure 3. Live Plant Material Installation Specifications

11 Schaake Habitat Improvement Project Revegetation Plan

Figure 4. Planting Specifications for Container Plants.

Monitoring/Adaptive Management Monitoring will utilize qualitative and repeat photo-monitoring methods annually for the first three years. Qualitative methods will be utilized annually to track progress and respond to ongoing weed and maintenance issues, while repeat photo-monitoring will be used throughout the contract period to demonstrate Project success. Quantitative Monitoring will be utilized in the third year after plantings to measure successful revegetation performance.

Qualitative Monitoring/Adaptive Management Qualitative monitoring will be conducted a minimum of five times the first year live plants are installed and three times per year thereafter (and for other treatments) to ensure that the objective is being met.

If the objective is not being met, adaptive management corrections should be implemented. During monitoring, the following attributes will be noted in each revegetation site: seedling survival, live plant survival, native seedling emergence (ocular estimate of percent cover), native species present (including natural recruitment), weed presence, erosion control issues, sterilant damage, excessive soil nutrient issues and percent of site that may require re-seeding/re-planting.

After each data collection, specific issues related to weeds, watering, herbivory, soil sterilants and weather will be identified and corrective actions/adaptive management will be completed within the next year.

12 Schaake Habitat Improvement Project Revegetation Plan

Photo Monitoring Permanent post-construction photo points will be established within each revegetation type and permanently monumented after construction is complete in 2026. In addition to the permanent photo points, drone images of the entire Project site area will be used for monitoring as well. Photo monitoring will take place each year in the spring (using the same view, distance, and focal length for comparison purposes) through the term of the contract to determine whether performance criteria is met.

Quantitative Monitoring Three years post planting, the Contractor’s biologist shall measure percent plant cover within each restoration zone (Upland, Alkaline-

Upland, Upper

Transitional, Lower

Transitional, Overbank, Bank, and Wetland). The following monitoring methodology is recommended:

A transect should be randomly located within the zone, and at regularly spaced intervals alo ng a this transect, a random number generator should be used to determine the direction perpendicular to the transect and the distance from the transect to the sampling location. A circular, 100-sq.-ft. area

(macro-plot) shall be examined at each sampling location. A minimum of 5 macro-plots should be read

13 Schaake Habitat Improvement Project Revegetation Plan per transect, and 1 transect should be established per zone. Data collected from within each macro-plot shall include absolute vegetation cover, bare ground or mulch cover, native woody cover, native herbaceous vegetation cover, and nonnative herbaceous vegetation cover. Cover classes (Daubenmire

1970 or similar) may be utilized to group coverage estimates. Visual estimates of vegetation cover are based on the “Sampling Vegetation Attributes Cover Method” (Bureau of Land Management, 1999).

Performance Criteria Revegetation will be considered successful, if, upon quantitative monitoring, treatment areas meet the

Army Corps of Engineers Biological Opinion monitoring criteria. Quantitative monitoring shall take place three years after plantings take place and indicate 50% native herbaceous and/or 70% native woody cover in year three. Performance criteria will be measured separately for each revegetation type.

Additionally, because of the stratified timeline of this Project, performance criteria associated with the different treatment areas and revegetation types will be measured in stages throughout the contract period. Once this performance criteria have been met for all treatment areas, the contract will be complete.

Reporting Annual reports will be prepared throughout the term of the contract and submitted to the Reclamation

Project Manager. The first annual report (2024) will outline initial revegetation activities detailing revegetation site locations, methods, species planted and photos of work in progress. Follow up reports will include qualitative monitoring data as well as photographs for each site monitored accompanied by

GIS shapefiles and maps of all areas monitored. Quantitative data shall be submitted beginning in 2027

(three years after the initial staged planting). Each annual report will include a “recommendations” section that will explain any problems encountered and options for potential solutions for adaptive management. If it appears that performance criteria will not be met and additional planting is needed, recommendations will be made.

15 Schaake Habitat Improvement Project Revegetation Plan

Table 3. Plant Materials Schedule- Grass Seed & Live Plants

References

Bureau of Reclamation, 2018. Schaake Habitat Improvement Project, 90 Percent Basis of

Design Report, Yakima River. November. Boise, Idaho.

Bureau of Reclamation, 2017. Geology Report, Test Pit Investigations, Schaake Property

Habitat Improvement, Washington, Pacific Northwest Region. December. Boise, Idaho.

CH2M, 2015. Schaake Property Habitat Improvement Project, Basis of Design Report –

30 Percent Design. Yakima Basin Water Enhancement Project. November. Boise Idaho.

CH2M HILL, 2015. Schaake Property Habitat Improvement Project, Wetland Delineation

Report, Adjacent Properties. Prepared for Bureau of Reclamation, Yakima River Basin

Water Enhancement Project. October. Boise, Idaho.

Hilldale, R. and Klinger, R.. 2003. Yakima River Habitat Improvement Study: Schaake

Reach, Ellensburg, Washington Interim Report to the Yakima River Basin Water

Enhancement Project.

Hoag, C., Berg, F, and Sampson. 2001. Riparian Planting Zones in the Intermountain

West. Riparian/Wetland Project Information Series No. 16. USDA-NRCS, Aberdeen, ID.

Hoag, C. and Fripp, J. 2005. Streambank Soil Bioengineering Considerations for

Semi-Arid Climates. Riparian/Wetland Project Information Series No. 18. USDA-NRCS, Aberdeen, ID.

ICF International, 2010. Wetland Delineation Report, Schaake Property Habitat

Improvement Project. Prepared for CH2M Hill. November. Boise, Idaho.

Land Profile Inc., 2007. Soil Phosphorus Study for Bureau of Reclamation, Former

Schaake Property, 1180 Umptanum Road, Ellensburg, Washington. July. Spokane, WA.

Land Profile Inc., 2004. Soil and Site Study for Bureau of Reclamation, Former Schaake

Property, 1180 Umptanum Road, Ellensburg, Washington. September. Spokane, WA.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 2018. Priority Habitats and Species Data, http://apps.wdfw.wa.gov/phsontheweb/. Accessed November, 2018.

16 Schaake Habitat Improvement Project Revegetation Plan http://apps.wdfw.wa.gov/phsontheweb/