Cooper Creek Aquatic Habitat Survey

2002 Cooper Creek Aquatic Habitat Survey Program Objective: Document Baseline Aquatic Habitat Conditions Tasks: 1. Conduct a modified Tier 3 survey between the mouth of Cooper Creek and the mouth of the canyon (Alluvial Reach). 2. Divide the Canyon Reach by major tributaries: Survey each segment at the Tier 2 level. Conduct Tier 3 survey 100 m above and below each major tributary and 100 m in middle of each segment. 3. Conduct a modified Tier 3 survey on the portion of the stream between Stetson Creek and the first impassable falls (Stetson Reach). 4. Conduct a Tier 2 survey of high gradient segment between the lower and upper impassable falls (Falls Reach). 5. Conduct a Tier 2 survey from upper impassable falls to Cooper Lake dam (Lake Reach)

Alluvial Reach: 1,128 meters Channel Type: MM1 = 450 m, MM2 = 678 m, (narrow floodplain) Gradient: 1.5% Dominant Pool Habitat: PL-mcs = 515 m 2 PL-pp = 125 m 2 PL-lsc = 86 m 2 Dominant Fastwater Habitat: RF-cb (entire reach) Side Channel Habitat: 1,368 m 2 468 m (length) Dominant Side Channel Pool Habitat: PL-mcs = 36 m 2 PL-pp = 33 m 2 Comments: Main Channel pebble counts indicated adequate spawning gravels at 32-180 mm (13-100 m ideal). Substrate imbededness was not evident. Several large wood clusters, minimal undercut bank. Upper portion of reach characterized by a long strait channel, with severe erosional features on both banks moving into canyon reach. Canyon Reach 4,200 meters Channel Type: MM2 = 320 m, MC2 > 2,200 m Gradient: 3-5% Dominant Pool Habitat: PL-pp, in RF-bd fastwater habitat PL-pp & PL-mcs, in CS-sp fastwater habitat Dominant Fastwater Habitat: RF-bd Side Channel Habitat: 39 m 2 140 m length Dominant Side Channel Pool Habitat: PL-mcs 37 m 2 Comments: Additional data needed for canyon reach, current information based on 2,500 m tier two & 200 m tier three. Deeply incised channel, significant amount of sediment transport, avalanche disturbance. Contains cascading step-pool sections, bedrock channel with perpendicular side slopes in areas. Three active mine sites with small instream dredges, affects appear to be localized. Side channel habitat and large wood are minimal. Side channels are predominantly ephemeral some residual pools.

Stetson Reach 1,443 meters Channel Type: MC2 = 1,370 m, HC4 = 705 m Gradient: 2-6% Dominant Pool Habitat: BP 1,450 m 2 GL-gl 800 m 2 PL-pp, PL-dm 140 m 2 Dominant Fastwater Habitat: RF-bd 2,860 m RF-cb 1620 m Side Channel Habitat: 303 m 2 166 m length Dominant Side Channel Pool Habitat: N/A Comments: Diverse pool / riffle habitat, avalanche disturbance. Reduced flow may be causing channel to fill with sediment and debris from tributary and avalanche inputs. Flood peaks range from 0-8% of pre-dam values (USFS, 2002). No fish passage barriers largest jump height approx four feet. Significant amounts of large wood. Falls Reach 438 meters Channel Type: HC4 = 438 m Gradient: 5-8%, Waterfalls Dominant Pool Habitat: BP Dominant Fastwater Habitat: RF-bd (mostly interspersed with beaver ponds) Side Channel Habitat: N/A Dominant Side Channel Pool Habitat: N/A Comments: Barrier falls located 7.1 kilometers from mouth approximately, 60 ft high. A total of four waterfalls, scour pools at base of filling with silt. Characterized by a steep gradient falls section interspersed with beaver ponds. Significant amounts of wood tied up in beaver ponds (Falls and Lake reaches).

Lake Reach 417 meters Channel Type: Continuous Complex of Beaver Ponds 235 m Disturbed Channel 170 m Gradient: 2-3% Dominant Pool Habitat: BP 1 Dominant Fastwater Habitat: BP Side Channel Habitat: N/A Dominant Side Channel Pool Habitat: N/A Comments: Side slopes begin to shallow, little avalanche influence, highly disturbed channel nearly dry.

Cooper Creek Pool Habitat Richness La ke 2.2 Falls 6.2 Stetson 3.5 Canyon 1. 7 Allu v ial 2.0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Pools / 100 Meters

ALLUVIAL REACH

CANYON REACH

STETSON CREEEK: 20 CFS (9-4-02 USGS Station)

STETSON CREEK: 180 CFS (11-5-02 USGS Station)

STETSON REACH

LOWER FALLS Start of Falls Reach

LAKE REACH