20220897 Ver 1_Plans and Design BDA on Canoe Creek_20220630

Plans and Designs: Beaverdam Analog Restoration of an Unnamed Tributary of Canoe Creek
Prepared by: Grant Buckner, Watershed Manager- Northern Basin
Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
Executive Summary:
Beaver dam analogs (BDAs) have been used with immense success in the Western United States
for the restoration of degraded riverscapes (Pollock et al. 2014; Castro et al. 2015; Davee et al.
2019). However, in the Eastern United States, especially the Southeast, the applicability of
BDAs for stream restoration is largely unknown. The same underlying principles that are leading
to success in the Western US apply to the Southeast, in that historically beaver would have been
present and likely held strong control of smaller streams. Canoe Creek is a tributary to the
Catawba River just upstream from Lake Rhodiss. Canoe Creek was formerly listed as impaired
under the Clean Water Acts 303 (d) list. It was removed during the last cycle for 2020. From a
2009 study Canoe Creek was identified as a major contributor of sediments to the Catawba River
and Lake Rhodiss. Today the stream is still largely incised, and sediment choked. It is our goal to
pilot a project on a small unnamed tributary of Canoe Creek located on property owned by
Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina. Upon completion of the goals listed below, this project
will allow a better understanding of the impacts BDAs have on water quality and potentially
allow expansion into the main stem of Canoe Creek to reduce incision and decrease
sedimentation.
Goals:
1. Reconnect the Unnamed Tributary of Canoe Creek to its prior floodplain and reduce
further incision while promoting beaver establishment through the placement of beaver
habitat via beaver dam analogs (BDAs).
2. Monitor the project to better understand if this is a useful tool for stream restoration.
Project Design Overview:
A two complex of 2-4 BDAs (±1) postless & post -assisted BDAs will be constructed on
the Unnamed Tributary of Canoe Creek. (The average life expectancy of any given BDA
is < 1-2 years).
For each post -assisted BDA Loblolly pines from the property (<4inches DBH) will be
driven into the stream bead with post -fence drives. These will be spaced Ift-1.5ft apart
for the width of the channel and then shrubs and branches from the property along with
mud and a handful of rocks from the stream will be used to create the BDA. The goal
here is to think and behave like a beaver.
The series of the BDAs will gradually increase the water level with the downstream BDA likely
3-4 feet tall the height progressing until the last BDA is approximately one foot below bankfull
allowing reconnection with the floodplain.

Map 1. Location Map. Location of property and project area in relation to surrounding areas.
Note no work will be done on land outside the FCNC property.
Project Location Major streams
2022 Location Map: Beaver Dam Analog Restoration of an Unnamed Tributary of Canoe Creek — Major Roads � Conserved areas
Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation — u named rr.., o1Car- Creek M-idparnes
]ohns,p
N
I
Wdro i
F I
1'
-y�f_ �. rytaw6a Meadows Park
Oak. Hill Community Park and Forest
i
n
I �
a
I Ft�
Avao Ponds: Historic PieservaAon C,l� Morganton
GI Alpine, N
W
s9-A9 Q_3 _ 0.6 ' 0.9 �t +
2

Map 2. Proj ect Map. Placement of primary and secondary Beaver Dam Analogs for the 2
proposed complexes. Primary BDAs would bring water up to near Bankful. Secondary BDAs
serve to assist Primary BDAs and provide resiliency.
Project Map: 2022 Beaver Dam Analog Restoration of an Unnamed Tributary of Canoe Creek
Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
C.uii�-Liliu• Easeme:it Miles
Zones AE, AD i%annual Chance Flmd I leza-d Cemlaul d in 51ru'Wx , 1% Annual chance Flmd I lard r_en]iuons �
— Unnamed Ributary of canoe Crcek
0 Pp� Ly boundary "'""""
. . Prq—Area .�
••��• P.posc713—D—Analcys
C3nne Crt�k
C3 one C—k Cms Lion E.--l:.

Figure 4 (a-f). Typical schematics of BDA and BDA construction. We plan to use either postless
or post -assisted BDAs. Diagrams obtained from Anabranch Solutions LLC.
a)
DAM CREST ORIENTATIONS
UNDAMMED REACH At low flows, and in the absence of dams,
flow paths within the bankfull channel follow
the thalweg and are shunted by bars.
bar
Since dams are built to a constant crest elevation, they essentially are
a contour. Water flows perpendicular to the contour and overthe dam
crest, when the dam is maintained and/or intact.
PERPENDICULAR - STRAIGHT
When dam crests span the bankfull channel, but are lower elevation than the
adjacent floodplain, low flows are contained within the channel. Perpendicular
orientations will back water up, and alter the flow paths to that of bankfull flows.
PERPENDICULAR - TO LOW FLOW Ille
Smaller dams that just backup the low -flow channel,s often have an orientation
perpendicular to the low flow, but at an angle to the bankfull flow patterns.
PERPENDICULAR - STRAIGHT ANGLED - STRAIGHT
`f 1�
When dam crests are higher than bankfull and extend out onto floodplains,
they can direct overflow onto those floodplains. However, a perpendicular,
straight dam will direct most flow straight downstream. By contrast an
angled dam will direct flow to one side of the channel (however the head
drop tends to dissipate most of the flow energy).
CONVEX DOWNSTREAM
Diva-Wsergent
Flaw
Beaver dams are sometimes curved in a convex douwnstream orientation
across the channel, which creates divrgent flow paths over the dam. This
flow patter is effective at dissipating energy.
CONCAVE DOWNSTREAM x
Convergent
Flow Paths
Beavers rarely build dams like Hoover Dam land Hoover was not designed to
withstand spill over the top). Concave downstream crests concentrate flow
at the base of the dam, scouring out a deep pool, but also potentially
undermining the dam integrity.
fO• ••-"'"It PLAN VIEW
M

b)
SINGLE ROW PLACEMEWS
POST PLACEMENT
PLANFORM VIEW
STAGGERED, DOUBLE -ROW PLACEMENTS
Mapped wngWad
Convex OS
1.
m _
17n10 FP Levee
within BFchannel
°
yy°
Y°
°O is
�°
g
¢
o
¢
d
f
Extending onto
Past -lines within channel are staggered
Perpenditular-Straight
Pe endicular-SY ai ht
4 te g
both Rond Pains
¢
with two rows.
within BF channel
¢extending onto right
e
d
+ ffoodplaln
In channels where debris could
PROFILE
VIEW
rack up on posts, cat excess post
length down to design crest elevation
+�
x
FLOW' Crest elevations below
bankroll
S) ft \\
J
1
4} 4+ II
Y I; 11
V
Crest eievatiens —
abnvebankful!
V V�
If using double rows placements,
angle posts in towards dam crest to keep
dam material from rafting up and out.
Crest elevations
ahnvebankfnli
z !
Non -plumb pasts are okay and even V
sometimes desirable. however, if all
posts in a row are installed in single
row leaning downstream, that is
structurally undesirable.

C)
PROFILE VIEW
STEP 1 Decide where to locate BDA along stream
Frow7 NOTE BDAs do not need to beypositioned on bars or T
riffles, but placing them on relative high spots
'� -,z44oes limit the height and material needed.
STEP 2 guild up first layer only to
top of key pieces and make
sure crest is level across bed
and its pooling water to this
temporary crest elevation
_ Design crest elevation
Dig out a key to about 1/3 the depth of
some large key pieces of wood or
locally sourced boulders. ---�
rx to 2x dia.
of key pieces
Use mud, bed material & turf sourced from backwater
area combined with sticks of various sizes to build wide base.
Make sure base is wide enough to accommodate designed height.
STEP(S) 3 Build up subsequent layer(s) in 6 to 12" lifts, packing well with
mud, turf, leaves, needles, sediment and other material until
ponding water to this next temporary crest elevation.
Uesvyo crest elevation_
L
Lay branches parallel to flow on downstreamside
and build up a mattress to dissipate overflow
FINISHING STEP Bring dam up to desired design crest elevation. Make sure crest of
dam is perfectly level (so no preferential flow or weir exists). If
stream is flowing, water should be backed up and ponding, but
flow over and through dam should equilibrate so that flow into pond
w� r equals_flow out (over and through leaky dam).
CC } University
RESTORATION CONSORTIUM
I

d)
Floodplain or Terrace
rco� Design Crest Elevation
PROFILE VIEW
Start by building a complete postless BDA
)see postless recipe)
New Pond
J
It high -flow stream power is a concern, optionally, add untreated wooden
pasts opportunistically to reinforce BDA. Drive posts through entire
structure & ideally 1/4to 1/3 the length of finish posts into underlying bed.
cc Oixr�s''ty
REVOAI.QN CCNSOIIw
7
Build an overflow mattress of branches
laid parallel to flow direction and woven
into weave above. The mattress acts to
dissipate flow energy of flows spilling
over top of dam.
BDA height

e)
PROFILE VIEW
Design Crest Elavation
rlow�
Channel
_ \
it
Inaccessible Floodplain
or Terrace
X—SECTION VIEW
L
Trim with saw excess height
P1
= from posts to an even crest
Post placed at roughly even
elevation 0 or within 6" So 12"
II !�
intervals 18" to 30" apart a
4
above design crest elevation
it
It
d II
It
Design Crest Elevation
Drive untreated wooden
fence posts or arbnrist stakes
I
into bed (ideally at least 1/4
�� =
to 1 /3 of finish post length is
I I
Alternate wicker weave of branches
driven into bed)
_
like a basket on each course and push
l/
II 1
I I j j ; ; �` ` l 1
weave down tight against each other
II
Ir rt Ir rr �I r1
I I
1t rl II rr 1t tJ
.,
rr II tl r� II
.r 1r rr Is
PLANFORM
VIEW
� S View
Fiovdplain vrTerracs
Past placed at roughly even r
intervals 18" to 30" apart
rinw� Channel
aeon
Alternate wicker weave of branches
�-I like a basket around opposite sides
of each subsequent post in row.
NOT -TO -SCALE

PROFILE VIEW
H odplainorTerrace
r h f
Branches should be weaved tight with any
gaps tilled with smaller branches, sediment,
SZ Design Crest Elevation turf and other locally snorted organic matter.
FLOW'
New on
^
BOA height
Backfill upstream side of darn with bed sediment and! I }
I� I
Build an overflow mattress of branches
orturf sourced tram area inundated by new pond to } I
help through base. 1
laid parallel to flow direction and woven
plug excessive -flow and create wider 1 Y
into weave above. The mattress acts to
dissipate flow energy of flows spilling
over top of dam.
X—SEC710N VIEW
Flaodplaln Post placed at roughly even
intervals 18" to 30" apart
Floodplain
F@ankfull
Elevation
Design Crest Elevation �y ti
NOTE
I
Crest elevation for secondary
rl
BDAs is below floodplain
Drive untreated wooden I } y } y } y t y } y } y
height. and for primary BCAs
fence posts or arborist stakes I 1 I I I 1 1 I
into bed (ideally at least 1/4 �I
is just above Floodplain height
and extends onto Floodplain.
1-4 11E l' v
to 1/3 of finish post length is I I
driven into bed) Alternate wicker weave of branches
y
like a basket on each course and push
weave down tight against each other
PLANFORM VIEW
See XS View
Floodplain or Terrace Lay branches in overflow mattress
%L Ir-- parallel to flow paths.
Alternating posts placed
at roughly even intervals
1 B" to 30" apart in double
row configuration
F10L�
Channel
VF
Alternate wicker weave of branches
like a basket around opposite sides
of each subsequent post in row.
cc ncsrow�.wncoHsa ri M NOT -TO -SCALE
0

Works Cited
Bouwes N, Weber N, Jordan CE, Saunders WC, Tattam IA, Volk C, Wheaton JM, Pollock MM.
2018. Ecosystem experiment reveals benefits of natural and simulated beaver dams to a
threatened population of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss)) (Scientific Reports DOI:
10.1038/srep28581). Sci Rep. 8(July):1-13. doi:10.1038/srep28581.
Castro J, Pollock MM, Jordan C, Lewallen G, Woodruff K. 2015. The Beaver Restoration
Guidebook: Working with Beaver to Restore Streams, Wetlands, and Floodplains. Usfws.
1:191.
http://www.fws.gov/oregonfwo/Tool sForLandowners/RiverScienceBeaver. asp%5 Cnpap
ers2://publication/uuid/F5CC7199-5304-42F2-8C26-50AF48FC1A31.
Davee R, Gosnell H, Charnley S. 2019. Using beaver dam analogues for fish and wildlife
recovery on public and private rangelands in Eastern Oregon. USDA For Sery - Res Pap
PNW-RP. 2019(PNW-RP-612):1-29.
Kroes DE, Bason CW. 2015. Sediment -Trapping by Beaver Ponds in Streams of the Mid -
Atlantic Piedmont and Coastal Plain, USA. Southeast Nat. 14(3):577-595.
doi: 10. 1656/058.014.0309.
Lautz L, Kelleher C, Vidon P, Coffman J, Riginos C, Copeland H. 2019. Restoring stream
ecosystem function with beaver dam analogues: Let's not make the same mistake twice.
Hydrol Process. 33(1):174-177. doi: 10.1002/hyp.13333.
Pollock MM, Beechie TJ, Wheaton JM, Jordan CE, Bouwes N, Weber N, Volk C. 2014. Using
beaver dams to restore incised stream ecosystems. Bioscience. 64(4):279-290.
doi: 10.1093/biosci/biu036.
Pollock MM, Naiman RJ, Erickson HE, Johnston CA, Pastor J, Pinay G. 1995. Beaver as
Engineers: Influences on Biotic and Abiotic Characteristics of Drainage Basins. Link
Species Ecosyst.:117-126. doi: 10. 1007/978-1-4615-1773 -3-12.
Romansic JM, Nelson NL, Moffett KB, Piovia-Scott J. 2021. Beaver dams are associated with
enhanced amphibian diversity via lengthened hydroperiods and increased representation
of slow -developing species. Freshw Biol. 66(3):481-494. doi: 10.1111/fwb.13654.
Scamardo J, Wohl E. 2020. Sediment storage and shallow groundwater response to beaver dam
analogues in the Colorado Front Range, USA. River Res Appl. 36(3):398-409.
doi: 10. 1002/rra.3592.
Weber N, Bouwes N, Pollock MM, Volk C, Wheaton JM, Wathen G, Wirtz J, Jordan CE. 2017.
Alteration of stream temperature by natural and artificial beaver dams. PLoS One.
12(5):1-23. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0176313.
Wegmann KW, Lewis RQ, Hunt MC. 2012. Historic mill ponds and piedmont stream water
quality: Making the connection near Raleigh, North Carolina. GSA F Guid. 29(03):93-
121. doi: 10. 113 0/2012.0029(03).
10