DESCRIPTION
This action will aim to restore floodplain connectivity, riparian processes, and instream habitat conditions. The primary mechanism for past channel incision has been removal of instream roughness due to loss of instream wood and impairment to riparian processes. Restoration actions should focus on restoring the riparian forest conditions and include targeted wood placements to increase channel complexity and restore natural stream grade. Properties within the stream corridor should be dedicated to maintenance and provision of habitat-forming processes. Landowner negotiations should consider opportunities to establish conservation easements and/or land acquisition to facilitate restoration in the stream corridor. Key parcels intersecting the preliminary corridor boundary in this segment include 10 parcels totaling 6.5 acres (5 along David Road and 5 along Taylor Road) with an assessed value of $1.6 M per 2012 tax records. Additional negotiation should focus on opportunities to provide alternative access to property on the north side of the creek and removing the existing driveway crossing. The property along the south side of the channel (right bank) includes low- lying areas on the south side of David Road that could provide opportunities for floodplain connectivity and off-channel habitat.
Habitat conditions are degraded from past impacts that have resulted in an incised channel lacking in wood and characterized by low channel complexity with few pool habitats. The geomorphic response to channel incision includes a tendency to widen and erode channel banks. In the absence of further impacts to floodplain and riparian processes, such erosion can be part of an evolving trajectory that could restore habitat-forming processes in the reach. This response is constrained, however, by residential development and bank armoring that protects infrastructure within the stream corridor. There are houses adjacent to this channel segment within 40 ft of the stream bank on both sides of the channel. A private driveway crosses the stream immediately downstream of the Navy RR trestle and has undermined footings due to channel incision. Bank armoring efforts include a recent project adjoining the church property on the left bank upstream of Taylor Road completed as part of the project funded by NRCS EWP and Kitsap County in response to erosion that occurred during the December 2007 flood.
Central Kitsap Projects
