The Lower Platte South Natural Resources District (LPSNRD) entered into an agreement with the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to develop a Watershed Plan-EA for the Little Salt Creek Watershed under the NRCS’s Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations (WFPO) Program. TFG is contracted with LPSNRD as the prime consultant to develop the Watershed Plan-EA. The goal of this project is to protect and enhance saline and freshwater wetland habitats in the Little Salt Creek watershed. The project will minimize further degradation and loss of rare wetland habitats, preserve wetland functions and values, protect habitat in the watershed and promote natural flood buffering effects of wetlands. TFG is leading all project management activities, data collection, public and agency coordination, alternatives development and screening, and development of the Plan-EA.
Numerous factors have led to the decline in quantity and quality of saline wetlands but streambed downcutting has been a significant factor. Streambed incision and headcuts have caused floodplain water table declines that created a disconnect between the saline groundwater source and floodplain wetland habitats. As part of the planning effort, TFG developed a spatial analysis framework for the over 29,000 acre watershed that incorporated vegetation, soils, and hydrology data to develop a saline wetland restoration suitability ranking.
The Plan-EA identified 120 ecosystem restoration projects (ERP) across 12 different NRCS practices including:
- Armor Headcut
- Bank Stabilization
- Floodplain Sediment Removal
- Instream Grade Control
- Invasive Vegetation Control
- Light Screening
- Re-Meander Channel
- Sediment Detention Structure
- Stilling Basin
- Streamside Saline Habitat Shelf
- Water Level Control
- Wetland Management Access
TFG developed 30% design plans for each of the 12 practice types and the planning level cost estimate is approximately $8 million for implementation. Project cost estimates range from $2,000 to $400,000 for various ERPs.
Project Photos
