Pikes Peak Annual Report – 2014 - RMFI · 2019-01-15 · Pikes Peak Watershed Erosion Control & Restoration Project - 2014 Annual Report . December 11, 2014 . Report prepared by:

Pikes Peak Watershed Erosion Control & Restoration Project - 2014 Annual Report

December 11, 2014

Report prepared by: Amber Shanklin, RMFI Program Director

Rocky Mountain Field Institute 815 South 25th Street, Suite 101

Colorado Springs, CO 80904 www.rmfi.org

Dedicated to the conservation and stewardship of public lands

Rocky Mountain Field Institute Pikes Peak Annual Report – 2014

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BACKGROUND

Pikes Peak, renowned as ‘America’s Mountain’, is located west of Colorado Springs (Lat. 38° 50' 51" N, Long. 105° 03' 31" W) and reaches a height of 14,115 feet. The Peak is one of the principal landmarks in the western United States and provided inspiration for the song ‘America the Beautiful.’ The Peak is presently the second most visited mountain in the world after Japan’s Mount Fuji. Over 20,000 hikers climb the Peak each year and approximately 300,000 visitors arrive at the summit via the Pikes Peak Highway, a 19-mile toll road, operated year-round by the City of Colorado Springs. Pikes Peak is also one of the most important natural areas in the region. The mountain provides critical habitat for a wide range of native flora and fauna. This area is of significant local importance as the principal water source for the communities of Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs.

Runoff from the Pikes Peak Highway (prior to paving operations) exacerbated natural erosion processes on the Peak. Gullies on steep slopes in the watershed transported many tons of sediment into a number of the fragile wetlands on the Peak. Under a court settlement initiated by the Sierra Club, the City of Colorado Springs and the US Forest Service were instructed to address the erosion and sedimentation problems of the highway and to bring the road into compliance with the Clean Water Act within 10 years of the settlement. Funds were awarded to the Sierra Club for remediation and restoration work outside the highway corridor to address sedimentation in the wetlands. These monies were placed into a fund (the Pikes Peak Fund), with the Sierra Club, the City of Colorado Springs, and the US Forest Service acting as partners to ensure the best use of these monies for erosion control and restoration work. In 2003, the Rocky Mountain Field Institute (RMFI) was contracted by the Pikes Peak Fund to assess the environmental damage outside the highway corridor and begin implementing project work in the watershed. Since 2005, RMFI has spearheaded the Pikes Peak Watershed Erosion Control and Restoration Project, a large-scale, multi-year collaborative restoration effort undertaken by the Pikes Peak Chapter of the Sierra Club, the City of Colorado Springs, and the US Forest Service – Pike National Forest.

RMFI and partners have completed six major projects in the North Crystal Creek, Ski Creek, Glen Cove Creek, Severy Creek, and West Fork of Beaver Creek basins. These projects have resulted in more than 2 miles of stream channel restoration and stabilization and over 8 acres of restored forestlands.

Work in 2014 continued previous years’ work at two ongoing wetland restoration sites; Severy Creek wetland and Tin Barn wetland (Figure 1). A small amount of touch-up work was also completed at Glen Cove Creek and within the Ski Creek drainage near the Glen Cove Inn (Figure 1). RMFI utilized youth corps crews and community volunteers to complete 2014 project and stewardship objectives. Project plans for 2014 were evaluated by Eric Billmeyer with the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs to ensure a cohesive work plan on the Peak.

WORK NARRATIVE


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Tin Barn Wetland

The Tin Barn Wetland is a small sub-alpine wetland (0.43 acre) located within the headwater area to Glen Cove Creek at an elevation of 10,965 feet. Glen Cove Creek is a tributary to South Catamount Creek, which feeds into the South Catamount Reservoir; a primary source of drinking water for the City of Colorado Springs. The wetland was severely impacted by sedimentation carried by storm water flow through a conveyance channel originating from the Pikes Peak Highway. This sediment formed a large alluvial fan that completely buried the pre-existing wetland. Accumulations within the fan ranged from just under 1 foot at the fan’s base to over 6 feet in the upper portion. The conveyance channel was eliminated in 2011 as part of the engineered design to pave the Pikes Peak Highway with storm water being rerouted into the Ski Creek basin. With the completion of paving and associated ditch work, restoration of the wetland was undertaken during 2012 and 2013 to bring the wetland back to its pre-disturbed, properly functioning condition. A total of 46,035 square feet of sediment (1,705 cubic yards) were removed from the wetland.

RMFI staff worked with a Mile High Youth Corps crew for 3 days to complete work at the Tin Barn Wetland. The crew continued restoration work within and near the wetland, transplanting 204 locally collected sedge plugs in the wetland and 28 locally collected spruce saplings and native grass seeds on the bench around the wetland. Banks around the wetland were stabilized with contour logs and 1 headcut was restored. Additional work was completed along the heavy equipment road that was decommissioned in 2013. Rilling and other erosion problems were occurring along the decommissioned road resulting in the crew reinforcing previously constructed grade dips, placing rocks and branches along the road to encourage native species reestablishment, stabilizing rilled areas, and constructing new check dams to slow the flow of water and encourage water infiltration.

The crew also closed and restored the road leading to the former Tin Barn. Following mechanical ripping by the City of Colorado Springs, the crew continued soil decompaction, installed 6 grade dips, contour-felled trees across the road, and added Biosol® fertilizer and native seed. The crew installed 18 rock check dams designed to help encourage proper water slowing and infiltration and also naturalized the entire area with rock and deadfall.

Glen Cove Wetland

Work in Glen Cove Wetland was completed in 2008 under the ‘Glen Cove Wetland Restoration Project’ (RMFI, 2008). The work was designed to remove sediment in the Glen Cove Wetland and to stabilize and control erosion originating from the gully channel entering into the wetland. Over 763 feet of channel was stabilized with retaining walls and check dams. The banks of the gully were then seeded with a native seed mix (with the addition of Biosol® fertilizer) and erosion control matting was installed.

During 2014, the crew walked the Glen Cove drainage (above the Glen Cove Wetland) and removed approximately 4,800 square feet of erosion control matting originally installed in 2008. The matting was removed for multiple reasons; the matting was no longer necessary in this


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area, the native plants had become well established, and this type of plastic matting has been known to be detrimental to wildlife in the area.

Ski Creek Drainage

Work in the Ski Creek Drainage was initiated in 2007 and completed in 2009 following the direction of the ‘Upper Ski Creek Watershed Erosion Control and Restoration Project – Phase 1 and 2’ (RMFI, 2009). This was the fourth project to be completed as part of the Pikes Peak Watershed Restoration Project, a large-scale, multi-year effort to address severe sedimentation and erosion impacts caused by storm water runoff from the Pikes Peak Highway. During this time, over 2,500 feet of bank stabilization and 1 acre of seed and soil amendment restoration were completed.

The crew worked in the Ski Creek Drainage for 1 day completing erosion control and stabilization work in areas that required touch-up work. One large rock check dam was reconstructed and reinforced, 1 section of bank was reinforced, 6 contour logs and 2 log sills were installed, and the bank slopes were seeded to promote native species establishment and stabilization from root growth on the drainage banks.

Severy Creek Wetland

The Severy Creek Wetland covers approximately 14.6 acres of land at an elevation of 10,827 feet (3,300 meters) within the Severy Creek Basin on the northeastern flank of Pikes Peak. The eastern most portion of the wetland is a fen supported by upward seepage from mineral soil, groundwater through flow from spring fed streams, and groundwater recharge from adjacent slopes. Some areas contain as much as 57.9 inches (147 cm) of peat under a wide diversity of wetland species. The western portion of the fen has been heavily impacted by recent and historic alluvial deposition. Like other wetlands along the Pikes Peak Highway, many tons of sediment covering approximately 9.6 acres and originating from off-highway gullies, have buried the fragile peat soils and their associated plant species. Under the ‘Severy Creek Basin Erosion Control and Restoration Proposal’ (RMFI, 2012), restoring the areas of the Severy Creek Wetland affected by the growing alluvial fan and mitigating the potential threat of additional sedimentation into un-impacted areas was deemed the highest priority goal. RMFI completed high priority stream stabilization work with an AmeriCorps crew during 2012 and ran a 1-week long Volunteer Vacation program to revegetate and stabilize key areas of the wetland, alluvial fan, and stream channel in 2013.

RMFI ran a 1-week Volunteer Vacation program to accomplish the goals in Severy Creek Wetland in 2014. Approximately 630 native bunchgrasses and cinquefoil shrubs (Potentilla) were transplanted into the upland area just west of the wetland. Re-establishment of native species in the area has been much slower due to the xeric ecotype present at this site. Despite some willow casualty resulting from over-winter and elk browse, restoration success in the wetland has been fairly successful. Approximately 255 willow stakes were transplanted along the edges of the wetland (where they were transplanted during 2013) to replace the willows that were lost in 2013.


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RMFI also stabilized additional areas along Severy Creek and the associated alluvial fan. The area was recontoured to encourage proper water flow and banks were reinforced with logs. Contour logs were installed near one bank to prevent channel migration, this is important to ensure additional sediment does not enter the wetland. The crew also transplanted native bunchgrasses, cinquefoil shrubs, and spruce saplings in the area to encourage bank and fan stabilization.

MONITORING

Monitoring was completed in both the Tin Barn Wetland and in the Severy Creek Wetland during 2014. Data has been collected periodically in the wetlands since 2010 to help determine whether sediment removal and/or stabilization in a high alpine wetland are effective ways to reestablish the water table and wetland conditions.

Tin Barn Wetland: Ground level was measured using a laser level along 3 transects to determine whether sediment deposition was continuing in the wetland. Cross-sectional data for 1 of these transects are presented in Appendix B. Measurements from 2014 indicate the work completed has halted further sediment deposition into the Tin Barn Wetland and the vegetation is starting to reestablish.

Severy Creek: Ground level was measured within 2 gullies using a laser level to determine whether the gullies were still conveying sediment into the Severy Creek Wetland. Cross-sectional data for 1 of these transects are presented in Appendix B.

WORK ACCOMPLISHED

Tin Barn Wetland

• 3 work days • 312 total on-the-ground hours worked

o 40 total hours of RMFI staff time o 272 total hours of contracted labor

• Wetland and wetland banks restored (0.50 acre) 4 pounds native alpine grass seed mix broadcast

• 20 pounds Biosol® fertilizer applied with seed o 232 transplants

204 sedge plugs 28 spruce saplings

• Road Decommissioning o Heavy equipment road to Tin Barn Wetland (~¼ mile)

Road was initially restored in 2013, required some touch-up during 2014 • Restored 2 rilled areas on decommissioned road


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• Reinforced 1 grade dip to encourage water infiltration and vegetation establishment

• Constructed 2 rock check dams to slow the flow of water on the decommissioned road

o Access road to the former Tin Barn (~¼ mile) 6 grade dips to encourage water infiltration and vegetation establishment 15 contour logs installed 44 pounds of alpine seed mix spread

• 91 pounds Biosol® fertilizer applied with seed 18 rock check dams Naturalized entire road with rock and branches to protect seeds and to

increase seedling germination • Additional stabilization work

o Stabilized 1 headcut o Installed 1 log check dam o Installed 6 contour logs

Severy Creek Wetland

• 4 work days • 4 community volunteers engaged • 247.5 total on-the-ground hours worked

o 87.5 total hours of RMFI staff time o 160 total hours of volunteer time (= $3,608 value of volunteer labor)

• Upland Area Restored o 530 bunch grass transplants o 100 Potentilla shrubs transplanted

• Wetland Restored o 255 willow stakes transplanted

• Stream Channel Stabilized o 42 grass and shrub transplanted o 21 spruce sapling transplanted o 8 contour logs installed o Log and rock retaining wall constructed to reinforce stream bank o Sediment removed (0.5 cubic yards) to encourage proper water flow into the

wetland

Glen Cove Wetland/Ski Creek Drainage

• 1 work day • 82 total on-the-ground hours worked

o 10 total hours of RMFI staff time o 72 total hours of contracted labor


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• Removed degraded erosion control matting from banks of Glen Cove drainage o Approximately 4,800 square feet of material removed

• Stream Channel Stabilized o 6 contour logs installed o 2 sill logs installed o 1 rock check dam constructed o 250 square feet stream bank seeded

Groups Engaged

• Volunteer Vacation • Mile High Youth Corps

SEED MIX

Table 1. Tin Barn seed mix – used along decommissioned roadbed and forested areas

Common Name Percent of Mix

Streambank Wheatgrass 20 Mountain Brome 20 Slender Wheatgrass 10 Blue Wildrye 10 Sherman/Canby Bluegrass 5 Rocky Mountain/Idaho Fescue 10 Alpine/Sandberg Bluegrass 10 Prairie Junegrass 5 Tufted Hairgrass 10

CONTACT INFORMATION

Amber Shanklin, Program Director Rocky Mountain Field Institute (719) 471-7736 [email protected]


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Figure 1. Map depicting 2014 RMFI work sites on Pikes Peak.


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Appendix A

Severy Creek Wetland Restoration Photos

Locally sourced, native sedge and bunch grass transplants were planted in the drier areas of the

Severy Creek wetland.

Stabilization of the alluvial fan within the Severy Creek Wetland.


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Tin Barn Wetland Restoration Photos

Before and after restoration of the road to the old Tin Barn.

Mile High Youth Corps members transplanting vegetation in the Tin Barn Wetland (left) and adding stabilizing structures (right).


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Ski Creek Drainage Restoration Photos

Mile High Youth Corps members stabilizing the Ski Creek Drainage with contour logs (left) and in-channel check dams (right).


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Tin Barn Wetland Monitoring Photos


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Severy Creek Wetland monitoring photos


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Appendix B.

Cross-sectional data collected at Tin Barn Wetland to determine effectiveness of restoration treatments. 2010 data (blue line) shows wetland prior to sediment removal; 2013 and 2014 data show wetland post-sediment removal and after 2 (2013) and 3 (2014) years of restoration. Data shows wetland has not refilled with sediment.


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Cross-sectional data collected above the Severy Creek Wetland to determine the effectiveness of Highway Department restoration treatments in minimizing sediment deposition into the wetland.

Documents

Pikes Peak Annual Report – 2014 - RMFI · 2019-01-15 · Pikes Peak Watershed Erosion Control & Restoration Project - 2014 Annual Report . December 11, 2014 . Report prepared by: