Fred Phillips Consulting August 2015 Terlingua Creek Restoration Project Big Bend National Park, TX F PC had the opportunity to partner with the Big Bend National Park and the Commission for Environmental Cooperation to help restore a stretch of Terlingua Creek, a tributary to the Rio Grande, which runs through Big Bend National Park. Historical accounts of Terlingua Creek describe verdant riparian forests of cottonwood trees and willows lining the river banks.the deconstruction of the riparian forest provided building materials and fuel for nearby farming and mining activities during the late 19th and early 20th century. Terlingua Creek is an intermittent stream, sediment rich, and is prone to flash flooding during the monsoon season. With this in mind, nearly 2000 sandbar willows were planted in the stream bed in an experimental teardrop configuration. This planting design will hopefully induce sedimentation during high flow events, promoting the growth of additional riparian vegetation in their wake. If proven effective, FPC is excited to replicate this planting technique in stream channels throughout the southwest United States. Vol.1-2015 YUMA WEST WETLANDS Lower Bench Design Connecting people with the Colorado River and the ecosystems that it supports has long been a goal of FPC. FPC is continuing to work with its partners, the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area, and the City of Yuma Parks & Recreation Department, to realize this goal along the lower bench of the Yuma West Wetlands. The restoration site includes one and a quarter mile of riverfront west of downtown Yuma. In the winter of 2014, FPC developed a conceptual master plan to restore native habitat, create over two miles of walking trails, and offer recreational opportunities along the lower bench of the wetlands. The center piece of the design is the beach access area that includes: a plaza, boardwalk, dock, seating area, and overlooks. The beach access area will attract visitors from the formal park spaces developed on the upper bench of the Yuma West Wetlands and offer a space for the community to interact with the river. This space will offer a rustic connection to nature and opportunities to swim, hike, bird watch, or just sit quietly with the river. FPC s approach of removing invasive species and restoring neglected sections of river have been a great success in the past. The Yuma East Wetlands is the prime example of this restoration approach. For the Yuma East Westlands project, FPC transformed over 300 acres of invasive tamarisk and phragmites thickets into spaces characterized by open native woodlands and today the acreage is enjoyed by the community of Yuma as a safe, open landscape. Presently, FPC continues to expand this vision to the Yuma West Wetlands.
Rock Bottom Ranch Baslat, Colorado volunteers and partners involved with the project includ the Pro Natura staff from Mexico, who were shown specific techniques to stabilize the bankline against erosion. A new technique demonstrated to volunteers involved using Baccharis pole bundles to stabilize the bankline. FPC was selected to help design a trail system for the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies in Aspen, Colorado. The trail system will showcase the educational features of ACES s Rock Bottom Ranch property. Located along the Roaring Fork River, Rock Bottom Ranch is a 113 acre demonstration ranch and wildlife preserve that serves as an outdoor classroom for area schools and the general public. While the ranch is located along the popular Rio Grande Trail, few pedestrians and cyclists venture off of the trail to explore the ranch. The creation of the ACES Eco-Ed Trail System, this will no longer be the case. FPC worked closely with the ACES staff to design a mile long trail network that will connect the community to Rock Bottom Ranch. The trail system will offer a paved, 9 ft. wide multi-use path, which will provide a spur off of the Rio Grande Trail. Once the design is implemented, an interpretive loop will link visitors to a series of environmental education stations. These stations, or outdoor classrooms, will offer informational signage and interactive opportunities to educate on subjects ranging from avian ecology and sustainable agriculture to renewable energy and riparian restoration. A gathering area and natural playscape will serve as the hub for the trail system. The natural playscape will offer climbing boulders, a play tractor, and a water feature. The water feature is particularly exciting; it will work as a miniature river system with pools, meanders, and riffles children will be able to cool off in the feature on hot summer days, while simultaneously learning about river ecology. FPC was fortunate to work with Oxbow Ecological Engineering to design this complex water feature. All together, the trail system will help Rock Bottom Ranch fulfill its mission of environmental education, wildlands preservation, and sustainable agriculture by connecting the community to these resources and showing them why they are important. YEW~ North Bank At the beginnig the Yuma East Wetlands north bankline restoration site was a large monotypic stand of phragmites like cancer spreading over the landscape, displacing all native plant species. Today, the restored site thrives with newly sprouted native vegetation. The restoration techniques used in the removal of non-native species were so successful volunteers wanted to participate and learn the new techniques. On-the-ground workshop participants were the first group of volunteers to help with the restorations techniques. During the workshop, In celebration of Earth Day, the Quechan Indian Tribe coordinated volunteers to help FPC plant Olney three-square plugs. They planted a total of 300 three-square plugs. Teachers from the Yuma area also contributed, by planting 100 California bulrush plugs on the north bank line. Students from Gowan Science Academy and the Youth Cultural Festival were involved in planting salt grass plugs along the bankline. Thank you to the volunteers who helped make this project successful. The Pulse is Flowing In anticipation to the pulse flow the south channel in the Yuma East Wetlands, which used to flood irrigate the wetlands, is now drained. The FPC staff coordinated the opening of the channel and captured as much water as possible during the flow. With the staffs coordination the south channel was inundated with river water after the flow. Due to the amount of water captured, irrigation decreased in the project areas near the channel. Later, the channel was slowly drained mimicing a historic pattern of natural flooding. During, the restoration of the Yuma East Wetlands North Channel bankline the pulse flow helped test techniques used for bankline stabilization. For instance, instead of the use of waddles, FPC used a brush revetment along the bankline for stabilization duringthe pulse flow. When the river came back to normal levels, the revetment bundles did their work. Not only did wildlife and vegetation benefit with the pulse flow, but the community seemed to enjoy the higher water level.we observed the local community enjoy the mighty Colorado River by building sand castles, or wading in the water.
Right Figure Depicts water sampling at headcut in Nitsin Canyon Tsegi ~ Nitsin Grazing Management Plan Kayenta, Navajo Nation Continuing our work with the Navajo Nation, Fred Phillips Consulting, along with Oxbow Ecological Engineering, were contracted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Western Navajo Agency to develop a stream restoration and grazing management plan for Tsegi and Nitsin Canyons, near Kayenta, Arizona. This work provides an opportunity to further develop the initial conceptual plans FPC and Oxbow Ecological Engineering put together last year for these sites with Parametrix, Inc. These integrative projects involve working closely with grazing permit holders to restore functionality and native plants to the remote streams and springs located within each of these sites. As part of the project, FPC will also be developing grazing management plans to address the management and impacts of grazing on these landscapes. These plans are the first of their kind developed for the Navajo Nation and the BIA. Work on the project will also include field work (taking place during the beginning of April) development of NEPA compliance documents, endangered species evaluations, and wetland delineations to help potential projects become a reality. FPC is excited to continue to work with the BIA and the opportunity to work and learn from permit holders about the issues and importance of grazing management. The added benefit is the opportunity to work in these spectacular canyons, situated next to prehistoric ruins and family farms. First Draft of the Navajo Nation IWMP Above Figure shows the view walking towards the above headcut in Nitsin Canyon Navajo Nation For the past two and half yearsfpc has been working closely with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and other Navajo Nation, Federal,and State agencies to develop a comprehensive Integrated Weed Management Plan (IWMP) andaccompanying environmentalcto learn more about ompliance for the Navajo Nation. The IWMP covers a variety of weed treatments, including Fred Phillips Consulting chemical, biological, mechanical, cultural, and manual techniques, that could be applied Visit our website at: on the 16 million acre Navajo Nation. Along with the IWMP, the BIA determined that an www.fredphillipsconsulting.com Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) should be prepared due to the large land mass that the Email us at: treatments would take place on. Prior to the development of the IWMP the nhicks@fredphillipsconsulting.com BIA had been conducting weed treatments on an ad hoc basis and had to complete environwrite to us at: mental compliance for every project. Through Fred Phillips Consulting,LLC this IWMP, EIS and biological assessment (BA) the BIA and agencies involved in the process 401 S. Leroux St. through a Memorandum of Understanding Flagstaff, AZ 86001 MOU) with the BIA will be able to conduct weed treatments across the Navajo Nation. Mitigation measures and best management practices were developed to ensure that the resources are protected. Through the process of gathering information for the EIS, FPC learned the background and history of this incredible landscape and the policies that make it work. FPC has just finished the first EIS draft and submitted it to the BIA for internal review. BIA will review the draft and then it will be sent to the cooperating agencies for further comment. Once the initial comments are complete, FPC will revise the draft and prepare to distribute for public review and public hearings. We anticipate a public draft finalized by June.
BJ Bishop Wetland Project Fred Phillips Consulting designed and constructed an artificial wetland, known as the BJ Bishop Wetland, located in Presidio, TX. The man-made wetland was constructed between Presidio s wastewater treatment plant and the Rio Grande. The purpose of the design was to restore riparian habitat along the Rio Grande. Revegetation included planting mesquites, cottonwoods, and willows. Bulrush was planted to stabilize and redefine the channel. The figure below depicts FPC s Restoration Program Manager, Michael Meihaus, irrigating native vegetation along the banks. Ecological Coordinator & Restoration Program Manager Liz (on the left) joined the FPC in April of 2015 and took up the ecological coordinator position. This position opened up when Vianey (on the right) was promoted to Restoration Program Manager. Liz received a Bachelor s Degree in Forest Resources and Environmental Science in May 2014. While attending university, Liz travelled extensively visiting many beautiful natural places throughout the United States and especially in the Southwest. Vianey recieved a Bachelor s Degree in Environmental Science emphasis in Biology in May 2013. As an undergraduate, she attended a NSF funded summer internship at St. Olaf (Northfield, MN). She worked with small mammals and the effects they can have on prairie restoration. Liz and Vianey work together at managing and maintaining the operations and maintenance at the Yuma Wetlands. Congratulations Vianey on the promotion!! Thank you team Yuma for all your efforts and hard work!! Look at the vegetation growth at BJ Bishop Wetlands just 2 months after planting!! New Additions to the FPC Team Restoration Program Manager Michael Meihaus served as the Restoration Program Manager. He joined FPC in March of 2015. Michael received his Masters of Landscape Architecture from Kansas State University in 2009, where he studied natural systems, design, and urban stream restoration. He brings a breadth of experience from his work as a designer, planner, nurseryman, and biological science technician. Most recently he spent the last 2 years working on the Elwha River Restoration Project for Olympic National Park, where he assisted with propagation, planting, and monitoring of the re-vegetation effort for one of the National Park Service s largest on-going ecosystem restoration projects. Office Manager Nicole is the office manager at the Flagstaff office. She started this position the beginning of May. Nicole possesses work experience in sales, marketing, and management. During her last year at Northern Arizona University, Nicole worked closely with Dr. Wilbert Odem on a stream stabilization project for the U.S. Forest Service located at Cave Spring Campground. Nicole has a passion for mathematics and engineering. The study of mass transport is one of Nicole s favorite academic interests. In her spare time,nicole enjoys cooking, painting, and reading to her daughter Chloe Rose. Want to see more? Check us out at Facebook
Nick Deyo We Are Going to Miss You!! Thank You for all Your Hard Work! We re wishing you, and your Family the Best of Luck in Davis, CA! Farwell Lucy, We ll Miss You Too!! Go Easy When Trap Shooting with the Inlaws!