Representative Watershed Science Projects

O’Connor Environmental, Inc.

Geomorphology ▪ Hydrology ▪ Engineering Geology

P.O. Box 794, Healdsburg, CA 95448    (707) 431-2810   

Hydrology Technical Advisor, Gualala River Watershed Council

Technical advisor assisting GRWC in development of community-based watershed monitoring program.

 

Carneros, Soda and Sulphur Creek Stream Channel Assessment

Cooperative investigation of fluvial geomorphology and fish habitat in Soda, Sulphur and Carneros Creeks, Napa County, California, as part of a Napa River TMDL study. Lead goemorphologist under sub-contract to San Francisco Estuary Institute under CALFED funding.

 

Garcia River Large Woody Debris Instream Monitoring

Lead consultant in development and implementation of LWD inventory for long-term monitoring of stream fish habitat as part of TMDL implementation.  Inventory conducted on 4.3 km of stream channel.  Inventory and analysis prepared for Mendocino County Resource Conservation District and California Department of Forestry. Link to PDF Report

 

Watershed-Scale Monitoring Plan for Evaluating Fine Sediment Input in the Quartz Mountain WAU

Developed a monitoring plan to quantify channel conditions related to sedimentation effects, predict changes in channel conditions related to changes in land management, and provide sampling parameters and statistical tests for detecting changes in channel conditions over time.  Prepared for Washington  Timber/Fish/Wildlife Monitoring Advisory Group.

 

Coarse Woody Debris Ecology in a Second-growth Sequoia sempervirens Forest Stream

Surveyed woody debris in relation to fish habitat in Caspar Creek, Jackson State Demonstration Forest, Mendocino County, California. Determined proportions of woody debris load that contributed to fish habitat, woody debris recruitment processes, and long-term recruitment rate. Study done as a Hydrologist with the U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Experiment Station Redwood Sciences Lab, Arcata, California, and published in Proceedings of the California Riparian Systems Conference, September 22-24, 1988, Davis, California.

 

Aquatic Trends Monitoring Data Analysis

Review and evaluation of extensive monitoring data sets including channel cross-sections, thalweg profiles, and surface and subsurface sediment size distributions with respect to applications for HCP-mandated monitoring pertaining to sediment and channel conditions, and watershed sedimentation status.

 

Freshwater Creek Class III Channel Monitoring

OEI designed and implemented a long-term experiment where topographic baseline conditions are determined using total station surveys. The experiment includes control sites and treatment sites where timber harvest will occur under rules prescribed specifically for Freshwater Creek by the HCP. Subsequent surveys will determine the extent of channel and bank erosion and deposition that occurs.

 

Habitat Conservation Plan Watershed Analysis; Stream Channels, Sediment Routing and Flood Hazard Analyses

Lead fluvial geomorphologist in adaptation of Washington DNR Watershed Analyses for use on northern California forestlands. Stream Channel module coordinator for Freshwater Creek Watershed Analysis, development of studies on erosion and sedimentation processes in Class III streams.

 

Dooley Creek Sediment Source Inventory

Conducted an aerial photo inventory for major sediment sources and analyzed likely sediment routing to lower watershed to assist planning for bank stabilization and fish habitat restoration. Subcontractor to project funded by California Department of Fish and Game.

 

Napa River Watershed Preliminary Stream Channel Assessment

Conducted an assessment of stream channel conditions in the Napa River Watershed Task Force. Member of technical assistance team to NRWTF reviewing proposal revisions to the Napa County Conservation Ordinance regulating development of vineyards and other rural land use.

 

Technical Assistance for Sediment TMDL Development

Adapted previous watershed analysis sediment input budgets prepared by O’Connor Environmental, Inc. for Simpson Timber Company, Shelton, WA, from mass wasting inventories to develop TMDL erosion targets.  Work performed under contract with Washington Department of Ecology in cooperation with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region X.

 

Garcia River Watershed Assessment

Conducted Mass Wasting and Surface Erosion modules of Washington DNR Watershed Analysis procedure (Level 1) for a 72,000 ac. Coast Range watershed in Mendocino County, California.  Prepared for Mendocino County Resource Conservation District and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in association with Forest, Soil & Water, Inc., for use in development of TMDL regulations under the Clean Water Act.

 

Thompson River Watershed Analysis

Conducted Stream Channel Assessment for 30,000 ac. in three forest watershed in the northern Rocky Mountains (Thompson River Valley, Montana) for Plum Creek Timber Company, under guidelines for Level 2 Watershed Analysis in the State of Washington.  Stream channels were surveyed and data were analyzed to determine likelihood, character and extent of effects of forest management on physical stream processes and aquatic habitat.  The long-term influence of stream channel migration on fish habitat was assessed.  Correlation between geomorphic channel types developed through the Stream Channel Assessment and channel types developed through remote sensing techniques was determined to aid extrapolation of findings to other watersheds in the region.

 

South Fork Skokomish River Watershed Analysis

Conducted Mass Wasting and Stream Channel Assessments for a 67,000 ac. forest watershed in the southern Olympic Mountains, Mason County, Washington under guidelines for Level 2 Watershed Analysis in the State of Washington.  Inventoried landslides on aerial photographs and quantified sediment production for the past 50 years.  Measured changes in sediment deposition and channel pattern from aerial photographs and computed sediment budget to evaluate impacts of forest management on erosion and sedimentation processes.  Developed a map identifying mass wasting hazards to minimize risk to aquatic habitat posed by forest practices that affect hillslope stability. Surveyed and analyzed stream channels to determine likelihood, character and extent of effects of forest management on physical stream processes and aquatic habitat.

 

Cabin Creek Watershed Analysis

Conducted Stream Channel Assessment for a 21,000 ac. forest watershed on the crest of the Cascade Mountains, Kittitas County, Washington for Plum Creek Timber Company Range, under guidelines for Level 2 Watershed Analysis in the State of Washington. Stream channels were surveyed and data were analyzed to determine likelihood, character and extent of effects of forest management on physical stream processes and aquatic habitat. Channel response to the effects of landslides and forest management were evaluated through mapping of historical channels and quantification of channel changes, and through sediment budget techniques integrating findings from the Mass Wasting and Surface Erosion modules.

 

Goat, Squeezer and Piper Creek Watershed Analysis

Conducted Stream Channel Assessment for 33,000 ac. in two forest watershed in the northern Rocky Mountains (Swan Valley, Montana) for Plum Creek Timber Company Range, under guidelines for Level 2 Watershed Analysis in the State of Washington. Stream channels were surveyed and data were analyzed to determine likelihood, character and extent of effects of forest management on physical stream processes and aquatic habitat. In addition, prior work on potential sedimentation due to timber harvest and effects on fish habitat was evaluated. The long-term influence of stream channel migration on fish habitat was assessed. Correlation between geomorphic channel types developed through the Stream Channel Assessment and channel types developed through remote sensing techniques was determined to aid extrapolation of findings to other drainages in the Swan Valley.

 

West Fork Teanaway River Watershed Analysis

Conducted Riparian Function Assessment for a 64,000 ac. forest watershed in the eastern Cascade Mountains, Kittitas County, Washington, for Plum Creek Timber Company under guidelines for Level 2 Watershed Analysis in the State of Washington. Investigated recruitment processes for large woody debris (LWD), focusing on floodplain processes and the role of channel migration. Inventoried in-channel LWD. Mapped riparian canopy closure levels and predicted influence of shade on stream temperatures.

 

Upper Green River/Sunday Creek Watershed Analysis

Conducted Stream Channel Assessment for a 58,000 ac. forest watershed in the western Cascade Mountains, King County, Washington, for Plum Creek Timber Company under guidelines for Level 2 Watershed Analysis in the State of Washington. Surveyed and analyzed stream channels to determine likelihood, character and extent of effects of forest management on physical stream processes and aquatic habitat. Mapped historic channel migration in alluvial portions of the mainstem valleys and quantified sediment production caused by bank erosion over a 37 year period.

 

Big Sheep Creek Watershed Analysis

Conducted Stream Channel Assessment for a 48,000 ac. forest watershed in the upper Columbia River basin, Stevens County, Washington, under guidelines for Level 2 Watershed Analysis in the State of Washington. Surveyed and analyzed stream channels to determine likelihood, character and extent of effects of forest management on physical stream processes and aquatic habitat.

 

Naches Pass Watershed Analysis

Conducted Hydrologic Change Assessment for a 41,000 ac. forest watershed in the eastern Cascade Mountains, Kittitas and Yakima Counties, Washington, for Plum Creek Timber Company under guidelines for Level 2 Watershed Analysis in the State of Washington. Applied hydrologic model to assess likelihood and magnitude of potential effect of forest harvest on peak runoff. Evaluated existing stream flow data for evidence of hydrologic change related to changes in rate of clear-sky snowmelt potentially associated with forest harvest.

 

Lester Watershed Analysis

Conducted Hydrologic Change Assessment for a 33,000 ac. forest watershed in the western Cascade Mountains, King County, Washington, for Plum Creek Timber Company under guidelines for Level 2 Watershed Analysis in the State of Washington. Applied hydrologic model to assess likelihood and magnitude of potential effect of forest harvest on peak runoff. Developed supplemental model for assessing effects of forest harvest on peak flow magnitude based on existing stream flow data and meteorological data.

 

Quartz Mountain Watershed Analysis

Conducted Stream Channel Assessment for a 26,000 ac. forest watershed in the eastern Cascade Mountains, Kittitas County, Washington, for Plum Creek Timber Company under guidelines for Level 2 Watershed Analysis in the State of Washington. Surveyed and analyzed stream channels to determine likelihood, character and extent of effects of forest management on physical stream processes and aquatic habitat.

 

Watershed Management Plan for the Carneros Creek Watershed, Napa County, California

Created a hillslope/tributary sediment source assessment which consisted of three main work items: 1) an historic air photo analysis of hillslopes and stream channel systems, 2) a field assessment of upland sediment sources to identify road-related and other non road-related management sediment sources that were delivering or had the potential to deliver sediment to streams, and 3) preparation of a prioritized plan-of-action for upland erosion prevention and erosion control.

 

Native Fish Habitat Conservation Plan, Montana, Idaho and Washington

Fluvial geomorphologist on the technical science team developing Plum Creek Timber Company’s Habitat Conservation Plan for aquatic species, primarily bull trout, covering 1.7 million acres in Montana, Idaho, and Washington. Provided expertise in fluvial geomorphology and influence of large woody debris on channel morphology and fish habitat.

 

Upper Lolo River Watershed Analysis, Montana and Idaho

Conducted Stream Channel Assessment for 32,000 ac. in forested watershed in the northern Rocky Mountains along the Montana/Idaho border for Plum Creek Timber Company, under guidelines for Level 2 Watershed Analysis in the State of Washington. Stream channels were surveyed and data were analyzed to determine likelihood, character and extent of effects of forest management on physical stream processes and aquatic habitat. The long-term influence of stream channel migration on fish habitat was assessed. Analysis of probable sedimentation conditions and evaluation of previous cumulative effects analyses developed by the US Forest Service.

 

 

 

Office Location: 447 Hudson St.          Mailing Address: PO Box 794,  Healdsburg, CA   95448                        Ph (707) 431-2810       Fax (707) 473-9050   

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