Grantee Research Project Results
1999 Progress Report: Ecological, Demographic, and Economic Evaluation of Opportunities and Constraints for Riparian Restoration
EPA Grant Number: R825797Title: Ecological, Demographic, and Economic Evaluation of Opportunities and Constraints for Riparian Restoration
Investigators: Gregory, Stanley V. , Hulse, David , Whitelaw, E. , Landers, Dixon
Institution: Oregon State University
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: June 1, 1998 through May 31, 2001
Project Period Covered by this Report: June 1, 1999 through May 31, 2000
Project Amount: $899,999
RFA: Ecosystem Restoration (1997) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration , Hazardous Waste/Remediation , Land and Waste Management , Aquatic Ecosystems
Objective:
Our fundamental objective is to develop and demonstrate an integrated system for identifying areas of greater ecological, demographic, and economic potential for restoration of riparian areas. We are quantitatively linking the biophysical components of riverine ecosystems with the demographic and economic systems to determine the potential for riparian restoration. The research in Year 2 incorporates: (1) field measurements of fish assemblage structure in the Willamette River, (2) analysis of historical change in the river channel and riparian vegetation, (3) spatially explicit measurement of rates of demographic change, (4) determination of measures of economic characteristics of riparian lands, and (5) development of a screening process for restoration potential of the mainstem Willamette River. Finally, we have provided information to active stakeholder groups working on the Willamette River (Natural Resources Office of the Governor of Oregon, Willamette Livability Forum, Willamette Restoration Initiative). We are actively working with selected groups of stakeholders to evaluate the plausibility of options for restoration.Progress Summary:
Species Richness in the Willamette River. Fish assemblages were sampled in three major reach types (tributary junctions, braided reaches, and single channels) at nine sections of the Willamette River during summer 1999 (27 sampling locations). In addition, fish assemblages were sampled in seven pairs of 1-km reaches with: (1) intact riparian forests, and (2) riparian areas converted to agricultural and residential use. Fish species presence was determined by boat shocking, beach seining, and microhabitat shocking. Species richness in the second year of sampling also was 20 percent greater in tributary junctions and braided reaches than in single reaches. As in the previous year, most of the difference was attributed to introduced species. Proportion of the collected species represented by introduced species increased from less than 5 percent at the upstream end of the river to more than 60 percent in the more urbanized lower reaches. Incidence of external tumors and lesions on large fish increased from 10-15 percent in upstream reaches to more than 65 percent in downstream reaches. Abnormalities increased abruptly below the Newberg pool. Reaches with intact riparian forests contained greater species richness and greater numbers of fish.Riparian plant communities also were sampled in three major reach types (tributary junctions, braided reaches, and single channels) at nine sections of the Willamette River during summer 1999. Tributary junctions contained greater richness of riparian patch types and the species diversity within patches was greater. Single channel reaches exhibited the lowest spatial heterogeneity in riparian forest types.
Historical Channel and Riparian Change. We finalized and proofed GIS maps of the Willamette River for 1850, 1895, 1932, and 1995, and inundation boundaries of historical floods in 1861/1895, 1943, 1964, and 1996. We worked with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to verify all channel modification projects from 1865-1995 on the GIS maps of the Willamette River. We surveyed all revetments and identified all non-Corps revetments. Data on structure, geomorphic effects, and revegetation were collected for all revetments.
We developed a longitudinal spatial framework for floodplain analysis by segmenting the floodplain into 1-km bands or slices. Between 1850 and 1995, the southern half of the basin experienced greater loss of 50 percent of the total length of channels, the middle reach was highly variable, and the downstream portion did not experience substantial geomorphic change. Between 1850 and 1995, more than 80 percent of the floodplain forest in the Willamette floodplain was converted to agricultural and urban lands. The southern end of the mainstem Willamette historically was covered by extensive floods that extended several kilometers laterally to the active channel, but the downstream (northern) end of the river was generally constrained, even during major floods.
Demographic Change. A method for performing spatially explicit historical demographic trajectory analysis near the Willamette River has been applied to data sets for 1930, 1970, and 1990 at varying spatial reporting units. A collection of supplementary digital data suitable for use by project researchers has been assembled, including roads (entire Willamette Basin 1990; Benton County 1930, 1970; Linn County 1930, 1970; Lane County 1930, 1970) and structures (entire Willamette Basin 1990). A set of digital spatial control points was used to improve the spatial accuracy of the digital spatial database. SSURGO soils data also have been assembled for the study area.
Cartographic and analytic approaches of acceptable accuracy are being explored for depicting change over time of population density, structure density, and road density. These are important variables in ascertaining the demographic inputs to river restoration focal area prioritization (see Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4).
Economic Characterization. During the past year, we assembled, with the assistance of the Institute for a Sustainable Environment at the University of Oregon and county tax assessor offices, a data set consisting of tax lot information for most counties along the mainstem Willamette River. We used the data set to complete a preliminary economic characterization of the mainstem, focusing on variables such as average per acre land values, land use, and average size of land parcels.
We also communicated with other researchers both inside and outside of the project and representatives/stakeholders from numerous organizations. The organizations include the Oregon Conservation and Reserve Program, the Oregon Department of Agriculture, and the Portland Audubon Society.
We have completed a preliminary economic analysis, using the tax lot data, of
a section of the mainstem Willamette River just north of Harrisburg. Our
preliminary results indicate that as one moves south toward the urban growth
boundary of Harrisburg:
? Average per acre land values increase.
? Average tax lot size
decreases.
? Non-agricultural land use increases.
Public Involvement. We continue to meet with the Willamette Livability Forum and we presented information about the project at the annual stakeholders conference that explores basin issues. We have worked with the Willamette Restoration Initiative to create a restoration strategy for the basin.
We also identified and recruited stakeholders who will advise and respond to the project team on various elements of the study. Members of the Forum and its Resource Group will serve as stakeholder groups. A Possible Futures Working Group was formed to advise on the development of long-term alternative scenarios for the Willamette basin. This working group is identifying potential restoration efforts as part of one or more scenarios. Finally, the newly formed Willamette Restoration Initiative Board of Directors will serve as a stakeholder group for the project.
Figures:
Figure 1 | Figure 2
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Figure 3 | Figure 4 |
Future Activities:
The primary task in the coming year will be integration of research results and prioritization of restoration potential for the entire Willamette River. Our collaborative work will continue in conducting, with project research partners, the synthesis of demographic, biologic, geomorphic, and economic analyses in geographically prioritizing where along the Willamette River mainstem prospects are greatest for successful riparian restoration. We will explore four focal areas in detail: upper Willamette near Eugene, Harrisburg, Santiam River confluence, and Clackamas River confluence.
We will continue to meet with other researchers to coordinate our research projects and identify focal areas. We will interact with stakeholders to obtain feedback on our preliminary results.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 14 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
rivers, ecology, riparian vegetation, floods, ecosystem, restoration, regionalization, scaling, terrestrial, aquatic, habitat, integrated assessment, modeling, monitoring, surveys, satellite, landsat, remote sensing, public policy, decisionmaking, community-based, cost benefit, nonmarket valuation, contingent valuation, socioeconomic, compensation, conservation, environmental assets, sociological, pacific northwest, OR, EPA Region 10., RFA, Economic, Social, & Behavioral Science Research Program, Scientific Discipline, Geographic Area, Water, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Ecology, Ecosystem/Assessment/Indicators, Ecosystem Protection, Restoration, State, Monitoring/Modeling, decision-making, Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration, EPA Region, Economics & Decision Making, ecological exposure, demographic, floods, habitat, monitoring, remote sensing, stakeholder groups, surveys, wetlands, compensation, contingent valuation, ecosystem valuation, policy analysis, public resources, residential property values, social psychology, aquatic, ecological condition, ecological effects, ecological risk assessment, biodiversity, diversity, estuaries, fish, forest, satellite, watershed, wildlife, streams, economic goals, biodiversity option values, community involvement, social impact analysis, valuation, adverse impacts, aquaculture, aquatic biota , ecosystem assessment, environmental assets, incentives, property values, stream, decision analysis, economic benefits, public issues, valuing environmental quality, bioavailability, ecosystem integrity, decision making, modeling, river, conservation, cost benefit, economic incentives, environmental values, ecosystem condition, environmental benefits assessment, environmental consequences, ecological recovery, integrated assessment, riparian, rivers, cost/benefit analysis, environmental policy, biotic integrity, ecological assessment, ecological impacts, ecosystem management, estuarine ecosystems, ecosystem, GIS, social resistance, aquatic ecosystems, social constraints, community-based, psychological attitudes, public values, assessment methods, ecosystem health, evaluating ecosystem responses, water quality, nonmarket valuation, public policy, socioeconomic, spatial analysis, Region 10, ecological indicators, fish , biological indicators, sociological, OR, stakeholder, adaptation, ecological integrity, ecological researchProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.