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Klickitat River Watershed 2022 Field-Based Workshop

Intro to Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration of Riverscapes

June 7 & 8, 2022 — Tepee Creek, WA

Sponsors

Yakama Nation
Anabranch Solutions

Description

This field-based workshop on Tepee Creek introduced conservationists to low-tech process-based restoration (LTPBR) methods for streams and their riparian areas. Participants learned principles of LTPBR, including simple hand-built structures like Beaver Dam Analogues (BDAs) and Post-Assisted Log Structures (PALS). The focus was on restoration principles, design and construction of low-tech structures, and how to treat specific impairments. Planning, assessment, prioritization, and monitoring were not covered in detail but resources for deeper study are linked below.

We encourage participants to review Module 1, the Design Manual, the Pocket Guide, and the online lecture series before attending.

If you only have an hour, these videos are recommended:

Where to Meet

Tuesday, June 7 — 9:00 AM @ Yakama Nation Closed Area, Tepee Creek LTPBR Staging Site (map)
Wednesday, June 8 — 8:30 AM @ same location

How to Sign Up

Contact:

What to Bring

  • Closed-toe footwear, clothes you can get dirty in
  • Wading boots or waders
  • Water, lunch
  • PPE (sun, ear, eye, hard hat, gloves) — some provided on-site

COVID-19 Precautions

Please follow current state, local, and employer guidelines on social distancing and mask wearing.

What Will Be Provided

  • LTPBR Manual and Pocket Guide
  • Restoration tools (shovels, buckets, post pounder)
  • Snacks
  • PPE as needed

Agenda

Day 1 — Tuesday, June 7

9:00–9:50
Introductions, goals, agenda, and logistics

9:50–10:20
Background and Purpose
(Pocket Guide p.5–6, Design Manual Ch.1)

  • Scope of problem
  • Importance of structure
  • Defining process-based restoration

10:20–10:30
Break

10:30–11:00
Guiding Principles
(Pocket Guide p.1–4, Design Manual Ch.2)

11:00–12:00
Context and Conditions
(Pocket Guide p.7–22, Design Manual Ch.3)

  • Observations and objectives
  • Valley bottom features, recovery potential, risk
  • Flow, geomorphic, riparian assessment
  • Adaptive management

12:00–1:00
Lunch

1:00–1:30
Low-tech Approaches and Structures

  • Beaver ecology
  • Introduction to methods

1:30–3:00
Designing Structures

  • Site assessment and goals
  • Review existing designs

3:00–4:30
Building Structures

  • Safety
  • Hands-on practice

4:30–5:00
Wrap-up, case studies, discussion

Day 2 — Wednesday, June 8

8:30–3:30
Hands-on construction of structures

3:30–5:00
Review of workshop, discussion, as-built review

Course Materials

The Design Manual and Pocket Guide will be provided on-site.

For additional resources:

Additional Resources

Tepee Creek LTPBR Design

A full restoration design report is available:
Tepee Creek Design Report (PDF)

Yakama Nation — Beaver Restoration Assessment Tool (BRAT)

BRAT models the capacity of riverscapes to support beaver dams, assessing perennial flow, dam-building materials, stream gradient, flood resistance, and other key factors. It was run for Yakama Nation Reservation rivers, including parts of the Klickitat, Lower Yakima, Rock Creek, White Salmon, and Wind River watersheds.

Link to Yakama Nation BRAT Data

Instruction Team

  • Stephen N. Bennett
    Principal Fish & Wildlife Biologist, Anabranch Solutions
    Research Scientist, USU
    Stephen Bennett

  • Joe Wheaton
    Principal Geomorphologist, Anabranch Solutions
    Professor of Riverscapes, USU
    Joe Wheaton

  • Andrew Hill
    Spatial Ecologist & Designer, Anabranch Solutions
    Andrew Hill

  • Scott Nicolai
    Reverse Logging Expert
    Scott Nicolai