Supporting Documents
Key background studies on stream conditions
and management strategies in urban areas
Fish Species Distribution and Abundance and Habitat Assessment of Streams in Clackamas County Service District No.1 (CCSD #1) In 1997, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and Clackamas County Water Environment Services (WES) collaborated to assess the health of aquatic ecosystems in the county’s urban streams. The study was conducted in response to anticipated continuation of stress on streams due to population growth and development in the county. Findings and recommendations were published in 1999 (Friesen and Zimmerman, 1999). The initial study recommended that there be subsequent surveying and monitoring. The study was repeated in 2002, with findings and recommendations reported in 2003 (Tinus et al., 2003). A modified version of these studies was conducted in 2008, and this report addresses our findings.
Assessment of Macroinvertebrate Communities in Streams of Clackamas County Service District No. 1, Clackamas County, Oregon Macroinvertebrate communities, physical habitat, and water chemistry were sampled at the fourteen survey reaches in Clackamas County Service District No.1 (CCSD #1) between October 9, 2007, and October 15, 2007, to: 1) help prioritize stream protection and restoration efforts; 2) serve as baseline data to help determine a watershed health index and “report card”; and 3) help determine the benefits and effects of restoration projects in future years.
Stream-Channel Incision Following Drainage-Basin Urbanization. This is one of the early articles by Derek Booth, a researcher formerly with University of Washington, on the cause and effect of urbanization on stream channels in the Northwest. It is included to provide background information for the Action Plans and because many of the other studies being sent out to the stakeholders reference this study. Please note, however, we have not attempted to include all referenced studies.
Urbanization of Aquatic Systems – Degradation Thresholds, Stormwater Detention, and Limits of Mitigation. This article by Derek Booth and Rhett Jackson is further analysis of the degradation of streams in the NW due to impervious surface, and the impact of effective impervious area (EIA) and attempts to develop relationships between impervious surface and stream condition.
Reviving Urban Streams: Land Use, Hydrology, Biology, and Human Behavior. This study attempts to link potential stream rehabilitation with stream conditions and biological indicators. If the hydrologic or biological conditions of the stream have been altered, the rehabilitation strategy should be modified to reflect these altered conditions.
Urban Impacts on Physical Stream Condition: Effects of Spatial Scale, Connectivity, and Longitudinal Trends. This study assesses physical conditions and spatially explicit watershed characterizations to demonstrate that understanding patterns of urbanization is required in the successful management of urban streams.
The Effectiveness of Stormwater Management and Riparian Buffers in Mitigating the Effects of Urbanization on Streams. This study evaluated the effectiveness of various structural and non-structural Better Management Practices (BMPs). Findings indicate that many traditional stormwater management facilities do not effectively offset urbanization effects on aquatic ecosystems; however, bioretention, Low Impact Development and maintaining natural stream corridors appear to have a more positive effects on aquatic ecosystem health.
Urban Stream Rehabilitation in the Pacific Northwest: Final Report of EPA Grant No. R82-5284-010. This EPA-funded study, conducted in the PNW, aims to develop a robust approach to urban stream rehabilitation by addressing watershed issues from a physical, biological and social science perspective.
Protocols for the Evaluating the Effects of Land-use Patterns and Runoff Management on Urban Streams: This study suggests the effectiveness of urban runoff management facilities, that typically include peak shaving for flood control and BMPs for removing pollutants from runoff, can be improved by reevaluating design criteria for the facilities. This study builds on a previous Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) study titled, Physical Effects of Wet Weather Discharges on Aquatic Habitats – Present Knowledge and Research Needs.
The Functions of Riparian Buffers in Urban Watersheds: A study conducted in Rock and Richardson Creeks to evaluate the effectiveness of a riparian buffer in moderating stream temperatures.
Stream-Riparian Ecosystems In the Puget Sound Lowland Eco-Region
Study Summary.
Evaluation of Street Sweeping as a Stormwater Quality Management Tool in Three Residential Basins in Madison, Wisconsin: The USGS and the City of Madison teamed to evaluate the effect of three street sweeping technologies on stormwater quality.
Bioassessment: A Tool for Managing Aquatic Life Uses for Urban Streams: This study evaluated watershed indicators and stressors in three focus watersheds across the U.S. to develop biological benchmarks for urban watersheds. The results of this study are being considered for use in the WES Watershed Health Index and as a tool for assessing streams in the Action Plans.