Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: West Virginia
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

Restoration Monitoring and Assessment Objectives 1. pH monitoring at the mouths of key tributaries We have widespread water chemistry data from 2000 and 2003 (Petty and Thorne 2005). We propose placing pH data loggers at the mouths of First Fork, Second Fork, Beaver Creek, and Rocky Run and in the mainstem upstream of Spruce. 2. Temperature monitoring in the mainstem We have four locations along the Shavers Fork mainstem that have been continuously monitored for temperature since summer 1999. The locations include: Spruce, Lamothe Hollow, Ryan's Bend, and upstream of Second Fork. Three additional locations in Second Fork are monitored for temperature. We propose continuing to collect these data. We also propose placement of additional temperature loggers strategically in response to proposed temperature management actions such as channel reconfiguration and riparian tree planting. 3. Mainstem habitat assessments We completed a whole watershed scale habitat assessment in 2000 (Petty et al. 2001) and other localized assessments upstream of Second Fork, within Second Fork, and within Rocky Run in 2001 and 2002 (Lamothe 2002, Petty et al. 2005, Hansbarger 2005, Hansbarger et al. 2008). We propose conducting a detailed habitat assessment survey in the Shavers Fork mainstem from Second Fork to Spruce in Summer 2010 in advance of any instream restoration work. These assessments include: a- visual habitat assessment, b- detailed thalweg surveys, c- hydraulic channel unit mapping, d- sediment mapping, e- fish cover mapping (including Large Woody Debris), f- riparian condition mapping and g- cross-section and longitudinal surveys in key areas (Petty et al. 2001). This assessment would be continued following implementation of channel restoration activities.