PROJECT NARRATIVE

KENAI RIVER CENTER HABITAT RESTORATION AND EDUCATION

GENERAL PROJECT DESCRIPTION. The Kenai River Center is a nationally recognized multi-agency organization working to maintain, develop, and protect the Kenai River watershed. The Kenai River system, with its many tributaries and two deep, cold-water, glacier fed lakes, is home to some of the most productive fisheries in the world. All five species of pacific salmon return to spawn and rear their young in the Kenai River and its tributaries. It is one of the few rivers in the United States in which salmon runs are native stock only - no enhanced or stocked fish. The River is home to 32 other species of resident fish. It is imperative that we protect and preserve this natural resource.

The Kenai River Center is owned and operated by the Kenai Peninsula Borough (comparable to a county) and is located on 8.31 acres within the City of Soldotna, Alaska. It was established as a one-stop center for permitting and instruction for bank restoration and habitat protection projects. Housed at the Center are Alaska Fish and Game, Alaska State Parks, EPA, and Borough planning personnel. The subject property is permanently protected under the City's "Kenai River Overlay District", which applies to lands along the Kenai River within 100 feet of the original high watermark. In addition, it falls within the Borough's more restrictive 50-foot habitat protection area.

The Center is used as a demonstration site for the application of environmentally sound riverbank restoration and stabilization practices as well as an outdoor classroom for riverine and riparian habitat ecology. Hands-on instruction is given to students learning about the importance of a healthy river, landowners learning about bank restoration and erosion control measures, and fishermen learning about habitat protection. The Center is used by the Kenai River Watershed Forum to access the River for science-based monitoring of the water quality.

The staff at the Center has identified significant bank erosion along the entire 567.23 feet of water frontage at the Kenai River Center site. Previous vegetative and bank damage is associated with historic bank use by pedestrians (most notably bank anglers hoping to catch a world-class King Salmon). The purpose of this project is to restore the bank as close as possible to its original state.

Our project has three components: (1) riverbank restoration, (2) environmentally-friendly public access, and (3) public education. Our goals are intended to provide improved habitat for anadromous fish species, continued access to the River but in an environmentally safe manner, and continued bank stabilization in other areas of the River through the educational process. King salmon, and other anadromous fish species, in the Kenai River will benefit from an improved habitat for spawning and rearing. This, in turn, will improve the diminished fish stocks not only for the Kenai River but also the Cook Inlet and Pacific Ocean. Alaska commercial fishermen, as well as sportfishers, will derive a benefit from an improved fishery resource.

This project will be funded by multiple grants, with multiple resource agencies and non-profit organizations collaborating. Potential partners include: City of Soldotna, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, EPA, State Parks, State Fish & Game, Kenai River Sportfish, Inc., Youth Restoration Corps, and the Borough.

GOALS, TASKS, OBJECTIVES. The restoration of the riverbank and development of educational displays at the River Center is consistent with the goals of the Community-based Habitat Restoration Program. This project conserves, restores and enhances water quality, habitat, and fishery resources through the improvement and rehabilitation of the eroding bank. The project encourages sustainable fisheries, and promotes education, research and information dissemination to the public and resource agencies. This project also provides a hands-on tool for teaching proper bank stabilization methods and stewardship of coastal and riverine resources.

Kenai River Center staff recommends the following restorative and access improvements to meet the current and future needs for habitat restoration, continued public use, and education/training programs that occur at this site.

BANK RESTORATION AND REVEGETATION. The entire property shoreline has been damaged to some extent. The majority of the vegetation loss and alteration of natural riverbank contours appears to be within the lower western-half of the property, identified as Site A on the conceptual design. This area has been severely damaged and requires significant bank stabilization to prevent ice and hydraulic scour and further bank loss. Site B, the upper river portion, has minimal damage compared to Site A.

Riverbank restoration will be accomplished by using bio-engineered bank stabilization measures - coir logs, spruce tree revetments, root-wads, etc. All vegetation used for planting, sprigging or seeding shall be species endemic to the Kenai River riparian zone. No ornamentals will be installed within the 100-foot corridor of the Kenai River Overlay District. Bank restoration measures such as this have proven to persist. Earlier, similar projects withstood the effects of the 1995 flood - a 100-year flood event. Other projects under the guidance of the Kenai River staff have met all federal, state and local environmental laws and permitting requirements.

Site A - Restoration. This 200-foot section requires a bio-engineered bank restoration repair using tree root wad bank stabilization methods. A single layer of coir fabric wrapped over soil /gravel fill material will be placed above the root wad toe protection. Cabled spruce tree revetment will be located in front of the coir log toe stabilization.

Root wads will be installed using approved methods, with minor excavations of the existing riverbank. Root wad trunks (minimum 6-foot length) will be inserted into the bank and on top of an entrenched sill log located at the base of the root ball. Root wads with a minimum of a 3-4 foot diameter root fan will be installed so that the root fans overlap. Toe rock boulders (6-12 inch diameter) shall be placed between the root wad trunks. The bank will be stabilized behind the root wads using coir fabric wrapped gravel/soil and willow brush layering techniques.

Topsoil will be added over the gravel/soil materials and fertilized and seeded with native grass seed mixture prior to completing the coir fabric wrap around the fill material. The completed fill wrap will be sprigged with woody shrub materials. This is intended to encourage the regeneration of under story vegetation and prevent the loss of cottonwood and birch trees.

Site B - Restoration. The upper one-half of the Kenai River Center water frontage, identified as Site B on the conceptual design, has minor bank trampling and erosion damage at the high water line of the river. This shoreline area can be protected and restored through the installation of approximately 363 feet of cabled spruce tree revetment. This will break wave erosion forces and encourage sedimentation along the toe of slope as well as prevent angler access across the bank. Under contract with the Borough, the Youth Restoration Corps installed cabled spruce trees and temporary fencing on this portion of the project in June 2000. The work needs to be continued and expanded along the waterfront.

ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS. Shoreline habitat-friendly access improvements are needed to prevent further riparian zone impacts. Access to the river without further degradation of the property is equally important. Three elevated light penetrating ("ELP") cantilevered gratewalks and platforms, and gravel trails will provide such access. Clearing in advance of installation of gravel paths or elevated walkways and platforms shall include only the removal of trees and shrubs necessary for the installation of the structures. Wherever possible, thinning or pruning of vegetation will be used versus vegetation removal. Grubbing will be limited to the minimum amount necessary to accommodate bank restoration and root wad installation. Old access trails will be covered with topsoil and revegetated.

Site A - Access. This area requires ELP gratewalks with access stairs into the riverbed to provide access for the River Center's continued educational outreach program and to accommodate the angler traffic. Constructed over the bio-remediated riverbank will be a handicap accessible 6' x 80' long removable ELP cantilevered gratewalk, with one set of removable 4' x 6' stairs leading to the riverbed. An ADA 8'x 24' cantilevered ELP grated platform with handrails will be attached on the downstream end. An ADA 6' x 300' ELP walkway with handrails and resting platforms will be installed at the top of the bank to provide access to the river. The walkway and platforms will be constructed in accordance with ADA requirements and with the advice of Access Alaska, a local advisory association for handicap access issues.

Site B - Access. Cantilevered gratewalks will be located at the end of two existing damaged access trails. The 140'x 4' wide ELP gratewalks with handrails will be installed from the top of bank slope to the river. Both gratewalks will lead to 6'x 20' cantilevered ELP fishing platforms. One platform will be installed over the 40' long coir log and willow brush layered bank stabilization site. The other platform will be installed over the existing cabled spruced tree bank stabilization site. Both platforms will have one set of removable 4'x 6' stairs leading to the riverbed. Attached to these gratewalks/stairways, at mid-point, will be 8'x10' ELP viewing platforms.

Upland Access. Access trails are needed to direct users to the educational areas and to the gratewalks. We propose resurfacing 830 linear feet of existing access trails on the property to connect the River Center and the proposed gratewalks. An existing power line clearing is currently being used as access by vehicular and foot traffic. Placement of large boulders at the start of the power line trail will discontinue use by vehicles.

EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT. Educational interpretive displays are needed to enhance the educational outreach efforts at the River Center. The Center is used by students, property owners, river users, and other resource agencies, all of them looking for information on how to protect the River.

A 90'x 50' gravel pad will be constructed at the top of the steep bank on the eastern side of the parcel. This pad would be used as an overlook and outdoor classroom/public information site to educate visitors about riparian zone conservation. A 24'x 24' covered interpretive shelter would be located adjacent to the classroom/public information overlook area. This structure will be open walled, post and beam construction setting on a gravel pad. Informational signs will be located along the walkways and within the shelter, instructing readers on the benefits of habitat protection and proper techniques for bank restoration projects.

METHODOLOGY AND SCHEDULE. Both the design contract and construction contract will be put out for public bid. The Borough has a very stringent purchasing code that requires contracts be awarded by competitive sealed bidding. Awards are made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.

Preliminary work, such as surveying and soil testing must be done prior to freeze up, usually in November or December. This will allow design work to be completed during the winter months, December through March. Restoration activities must take place in April and May when the water level in the River is lowest. Access and educational components can be completed during the summer months. The project should be completed by September 30, 2002.

STAFFING AND PERSONNEL. Kenai Peninsula Borough staff will have total project responsibility and oversight. The Capital Projects Director, and his staff will be responsible for project management. This includes preparing bid documents, ensuring full compliance with applicable building codes and regulations of authorities having jurisdiction over the project, and acquiring the proper permits. The Director has been employed with the Borough in this position for over 12 years and has extensive experience in managing construction projects.

The Grants Manager will be responsible for grant compliance with the terms and conditions of the agreement. Accounting and financial reports will be the responsibility of the Finance Department. Over the past 10 years, the Borough has received many grants from state and federal agencies. Closed grants have been completed satisfactorily and are in compliance with post-completion responsibilities.