[env-trinity] Trinity Journal letter to editor- Softer river restoration needed

[Tom Stokely]

Softer river restoration needed

http://www.trinityjournal.com/news/2012-02-08/Opinion/Softer_river_restoration_needed.html 
FROM J. MARSHALL DOUGLAS CITY
The Trinity River Restoration Program public meeting in Douglas City showed landowners all along the river stand together with recreational river users and the fishing guides in voicing opinions against heavyhanded mechanical restoration. Work that is far removed from the natural function of the river is not supported. That voices of stakeholders from many perspectives are saying the same things is important — take notice.

Gravel augmentation has been stopped for 2012. Let’s hope that money budgeted is used on other Record of Decision work, such as using the gravel on roads for watershed improvement.

Robin Schrock, TRRP executive director, says to landowners, “Don’t you believe the scientists?” To this overreaching comment we say, “No, we know intuitively log jams, huge numbers of logs and gravel dumping are wrong.” And we say, “Don’t you believe nature heals itself? Liken river work to a bodily injury: clean the wound and let it heal naturally.” Restoration work needs to look like the Trinity when floods and drought cleared the river edge of vegetation.

Using restoration methods fashionable on other rivers is not OK. Trinity County has many unique microclimates — anyone here for long knows what works in one draw or canyon or flat doesn’t work in another. The science for each section of the river has many variables and the research designs need to reflect the high number of variables and interactions. Will the research reports released later in 2012 reflect this intricacy of the research designs that was needed to evaluate TRRP work?

Please TRRP, and Trinity Management Council and Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group, stop plans to use engineered log jams and dropping root wads of trees not native to the river edge. Halt gravel augmentation beyond 2012. Apply for money to dredge the gravel that has filled the deep holes necessary for adult fish habitat. Expand work that includes all facets of ROD.

Take a softer approach to mechanical restoration by removing vegetation, particularly noxious weeds, and lower banks where silt has accumulated in excess vegetation. And work for more water in the river that reflects pre-dam flows.


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