Fish Habitat Restoration
Silver Spring Restoration and Property Enhancement
Confluence's services were retained by a Montana broker of high quality fishing and hunting properties to increase the value of a premier fishing ranch in southwest Montana. The focal point of the property was a 25+ cubic-foot-per-second spring creek, which originated on site and flowed approximately one mile to the Ruby River. While the stream had excellent water quality, it was physically substantially degraded by historic land use, and was holding only a few large trout. Recognizing its potential to become a blue-ribbon fishery, Confluence developed designs, acquired permits, and completed the work within a two-month timeframe. Following restoration, the creek has developed an excellent population of large brown trout and provides spawning opportunities for resident and migrating fish. As a result of this work, the broker was able to successfully market the property and obtain a higher selling price for his client.
Coffee Creek Channel and Floodplain Restoration
Confluence participated in a team effort with Lake Erie Land Company, J. F. New and Associates, and Conservation Design Forum to restore Coffee Creek and its floodplain in northwest Indiana. Designs include stabilizing over 3,000 feet of eroding stream banks using 5 different bioengineered bank treatments. Pools, spawning gravel and woody debris were incorporated into the stream channel to restore habitat for migratory salmon from Lake Michigan. Six floodplain areas totaling over 4 acres were excavated along the stream and will function to remove fine sediments during flood events, leaving clean gravel substrates in the channel. The new floodplains include oxbow wetlands and have been planted with native wet prairie vegetation to increase infiltration and groundwater recharge. These restoration efforts greatly improved habitat conditions for fish and wildlife at Coffee Creek.
Juday Creek Channel Relocation and Habitat Restoration
Confluence and J. F. New and Associates provided design, permitting, and construction supervision services for the relocation and restoration of Juday Creek on the University of Notre Dame campus. The stream was relocated and restored as part of the creation of a new 18-hole golf course designed by Cooke and Crenshaw. Juday Creek had been impacted historically by straightening and by poor land use practices. To remedy these impacts, nearly 2,400 feet of the stream was relocated to a new, meandering channel complete with pools, runs, boulders, woody debris, and spawning gravel. All construction was restricted to the channel alignment to prevent disturbance to surrounding vegetation. The banks of the new channel were stabilized using bioengineering technology and revegetated with native plants. Within months of completing the project, University of Notre Dame researchers found 26 trout redds (spawning nests) in the restored reaches of Juday Creek and none in nearby unimproved sections of the stream. These studies provide evidence that the improvements have not only restored Juday Creek, but have given this unique population of brown trout an excellent chance for survival in the future.
Spring Creek Spawning Habitat Restoration
The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, ∓ Parks retained Confluence to evaluate the feasibility of restoring spawning habitat to several small spring creeks that flow into the Yellowstone River near Big Timber, Montana. Improvement of spawning in the tributary streams provides recruitment of juvenile trout to the Yellowstone. The project involved conducting a site assessment, developing preliminary plans, and procuring funding through the state's Future Fisheries Program.
Bent Rod Bluff Fishing Enhancements
Confluence provided complete habitat evaluation, design, and construction oversight services on the restoration of over three miles of spring creek and a side channel to the Green River in central Wyoming. Thorough inventory and analysis indicated that the spring creek fishery was grossly under potential due to an excessive fine sediment supply, and a lack of spawning habitat and adult trout cover. The restoration plan addressed these limiting factors and has since converted the creek into a trophy fishery supporting trout up to 27 inches. Green River channel enhancements emphasized the creation of high quality angling opportunities where none previously existed. The combined fisher of the spring creek and Green River provide fantastic opportunities to catch rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, and Green River cutthroat trout.
Silver Creek Preserve/Kilpatrick Ponds Angling Enhancement
Confluence was contracted by the Nature Conservancy to develop conceptual designs for a unique fishing enhancement project in the Kilpatrick Pond area on world-renowned Silver Creek in Picabo, Idaho. Over several decades, fine sediments accumulating behind a series of diversion dams had degraded Kilpatrick Pond, making it nearly impossible to fish. Designs called for selective removal of sediments to create a series of channels and islands accessible to belly boats. Challenges included development of specialty dredge and fill techniques that could be executed without impinging on existing habitat and excellent water quality.
Red Rock Ranch Spring Creek Restoration and Wetland Expansion
Confluence was approached by the Red Rock Ranch in Montana to investigate the feasibility of creating a fish passage corridor between the highly productive Red Rock River and a small, degraded spring creek with a shallow irrigation pond. The owner's objectives were to enhance the spawning opportunities for the river fishery while also creating a series of interconnected wetland and angling pond complexes. We prepared a plan which contained a suite of options carefully balancing the creation of waterfowl attraction, feeding, and loafing areas, with a viable bank and float tube fishery.
Bear Creek Stream Restoration
Bear Creek, a tributary to the Madison River near Ennis, Montana, had been severely degraded from years of poor land management. This resulted in significant bank erosion and poor habitat for adult trout. For example, only four pools could be found in over 4,200 feet of stream channel. Overgrazing and vegetation control had also depleted the riparian corridor of nearly all woody species such as willows, river birch, dogwood, and cottonwood. These land use practices resulted in a stream channel that had become overly wide, covered with fine sediment, and devoid of many of the habitat features essential to a healthy trout population. Confluence restored Bear Creek by constructing over 40 pools and runs, creating spawning beds, adding woody debris for cover, and restoring the riparian corridor with 600 native shrubs and trees. In addition, grazing was halted to allow the stream corridor to recover. Currently, Bear Creek has a rapidly recovering riparian corridor and a growing brown trout fishery.