Kearny, Arizona: Restoration & Recreation Study

KEARNY,ARIZONA RESTORATION & RECREATION STUDY SPRING 2016

Table of Contents Table of Contents

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Acknowledgment

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Introduction

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ASU Involvement's Role ......................................................................... 5 Background

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Town History ........................................................................................... 6 River History ............................................................................................. 7 Project Understanding .......................................................................... 12 Fire Restoration ................................................................................. 12 Flood History ..................................................................................... 13 Habitat Restoration ......................................................................... 18 Site Visit ............................................................................................. 21

Vision Statement, Goals & Objectives

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Vision Statement ................................................................................... 24 Goals & Objectives ............................................................................... 25 Assessments

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Analysis...................................................................................................... 26 Flood History .................................................................................... 26 Fire History ........................................................................................ 27 Green Infrastructure ....................................................................... 28 Composite ....................................................................................... 29 Case Studies ........................................................................................... 30 Evaluation Plan ...................................................................................... 33 Public workshops and survey results .................................................... 34

Design Strategies/Recommendations

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Master Plan ............................................................................................. 36 Detailed Wetlands Plan ........................................................................ 37 .

38 Flood Control ......................................................................................... 46 Fire Breaks .............................................................................................. 47 Views and Perspectives ........................................................................

49 Evaluation & Action Plans 49 Priorities and Timeline phases ............................................................. 51 Responsible Parties ............................................................................... 52 Funding Sources ...................................................................................

53 Resources

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Acknowledgment Authors Abdiel Ruiz

Arizona State University, Landscape Architecture student Arizona Department of Transportation-Phoenix Maintenance, Intern

Alex Christopher Dixon

Arizona State University, Landscape Architecture student City of Phoenix-Street Transportation Department, Planning Intern

Cesar Del Castillo

Arizona State University, Landscape Architecture student WLB Group, Intern

Instructor Chingwen Cheng

Arizona State University, Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture The Design School contact: chingwen.cheng@asu.edu

Special Thanks Samuel Hosler

City of Kearny, Mayor

Anna Flores

City of Kearny, Town Manager

Jack Garrity ASARCO

Willie Sommers

Arizona State Forestry, Forestry Program Specialist

Alisha Phipps

USDA-NRCS, Rangeland Management Specialist

Bill Dunn

Dunn Ranches, Owner

Special Thanks also goes to the residents of Kearny who participated in this project and voiced their opinions.

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Introduction

ASU's Involvement Role Having been victim to several natural events including fires, floods & substantial growth of Tamarisk trees, the town of Kearny reached out to Arizona State University’s Landscape Architecture program in an effort to come up solutions to these issues. The results of this will be a master plan for the restoration of the Gila River and improvements to the town. To maximize the options of solutions for the town, 14 students were divided into 4 groups and each provided a different design proposal. The students created restoration and recreation studies and a proposed designs for the town and areas of interest along the Gila River. The students provided ideas including flood control solutions, options of fire mitigation, restoration of habitat, and recreational spaces among a variety of other design options.

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Background

Town History Located 80 miles east of Phoenix, in Pinal County, Kearny was founded by the Kennecott Mining Company in 1954 when its operation began to expand. Most of the workers who lived in the small developments of Sonora, Ray, and Barcelona relocated to what is today, the town of Kearny. The population today according to the US Census Bureau is 2,030. Many of the residents of these small towns were employed by the company and even today, mining still serves as the economic base of this town. Kearny's history can be traced back to the 1800's when the Arizona explorer, Father Kino tried to introduce Christianity to the Apache Indian population. It was later declared to be uninhabitable by General W. Kearny who the town was named after. He was a surveyor looking for gold and silver and the town was the first integrated city in Arizona.

The town of Kearny has the necessary amenities for residents such as grocery store, a hardware store, auto parts store, banking, ATM machines, a pharmacy, and medical facilities. The town also has it's own landing strip and a golf course. Recreational activities that its residents enjoy include biking, hiking, golfing, baseball, kayaking, tubing, BBQs and four wheeling.

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River History

Old river flow

New river flow The old the map on the bottom right shows old hydrology in 1927. It also shows the man made lake near the constructed wetlands.

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River flows here during flood events

A "bowl" is created from the existing topography southwest of Kearny and the railroad. As water rises the "bowl" starts to fill in and water rises around the high point.

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Development High point

Flood zone

As the population of Kearny grew, development spread towards the flood zone.

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Pressure is created from the washes draining towards the Gila River

The addition of the airstrip created a high point causing an increase in the velocity of the water moving through the area.

The aerial photo on the right shows the effects a early 1990s flood had on the vegetation near Kearny.

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Water flows into the development and the golf course

The airstrip north of the Gila River and the mountains to the south create a pinch point. The low point west of the airstrip is the primary point of release causing water to flow north towards the golf course.

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Project Understanding Fire Restoration A fire was reported along the north bank of the Gila River, near the western edge of the town on June 17, 2015. The cause of this fire is unknown, but city officials and stakeholders believe the fire was human-caused. The fire raged through the salt cedar-laden river corridor burning 1,423 acres in 11 days. The fire was contained on July 28, 2015. The fire cleared out vegetation and left skeletons of the salt cedar trees remained, but within weeks, those invasive trees have begun to re-sprout and if not controlled, it will again become a solid stand of tamarisk. Tamarisk are more flammable than native vegetation and don't require much water to germinate.

Figure 3.1 2015 Summer fire raging through the river corridor

Figure 3.2 Pre-fire conditions 12

Figure 3.3 Post-fire conditions

Flood History 20 Year Flood

The group created a series of diagrams showing the current process of how the Gila River floods near Kearny. The group determined that for every addition of 20 years there is a 10 foot increase in the height of the water. During the 20 year flood water gathers around the beach southwest of the airstrip.

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40 Year Flood

During the 40 year flood, the beaches along the Gila River start flooding and the low point west of the airstrip lets water in to flood the area around the airstrip. The flood comes very close to the developed area south of the railroad.

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60 Year Flood

Most of airstrip and circulation is flooded and the beaches are submerged.

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80 Year Flood

The airstrip and the development south of the railroad are covered.

There is minor flooding in the development north of the railroad.

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100 Year Flood

Everything south of the railroad is submerged including the golf course, the airstrip, high points and development. Flooding north of the railroad worsens.

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Habitat Restoration The Gila River corridor is an important breeding and migration corridor for the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher and the Western Yellow Billed Cuckoo. Both birds are endangered species. Although these species can utilize salt cedar as nesting habitat, restoration of native tree species such as willows and cottonwoods is critical to long term survival. Introduction of the tamarisk leaf beetle is decimating tamarisk populations in neighboring states and is expected to encroach into southern Arizona in the near future.

However the environmental impact of introducing a biocontrol has not been well studied. Replacement of these non-native trees with native species immune to damage by the leaf beetle is critical to ensure these species have nesting habitat in place before the tamarisk beetle removes entire breeding areas.

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Temporary nesting habitat or shelters may be needed before native trees are fully established. Encouraging the reestablishment of native vegetation creates a more diverse food web, allowing for more resilience in the system overall.

Important Animal Species Southwestern Willow Flycatcher This species has declined from the removing and thinning of riparian areas and water diversions. These birds are known to nest in cottonwoods, willows, box elder, button-bush, and seepwillows.

Western Yellow Billed Cuckoo This species has also declined from the removing and thinning of riparian areas and water diversions. These birds are known to nest in cottonwoods and willows. They are one of the only birds that eat hairy caterpillars.

Tamarisk Beetle These beetle have the ability to damage and destroy invasive tamarisk trees and are rapidly moving up the Gila River.

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Southwestern Willow Flycatcher

Western Yellow Billed Cuckoo

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Site Visit

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Typical residential street

Water treatment facility

Old mining equipment left by ASARCO

Underground utilities

Power lines along the railroad.

The two most popular forms of transportation seen in Kearny

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Shaded trail connecting the beaches

Beach along the Gila River

Trail leading to the burn site

Upland Sonoran Vegetation North of Kearny

Burn site

Burn site

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Road leading south towards the mountains

Vacant land located close to the proposed trail head

Steep path from one of the beaches

Railway crossing in south Kearny

Kearny Lake

Campsite west of the lake

Vision Statement, Goals & Objectives Vision Statement The residents of Kearny will experience economic, ecological, and social improvement from the long term environmental restoration practices that will enhance the quality of life. Residents will develop a closer relationship with nature through recreation, education, and accessibility by restoring native vegetation, wildlife habitat, and ecosystem functions. The ecological benefits will strengthen existing historic value as well as values that the next generation will enjoy and prosper with other Gila River communities.

Photo taken January 1993

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Goals & Objectives 1. Prevent wildfires -Provide fire breaks protecting development that are a minimum of 200' wide -Increase fire resistant vegetation by 50% -Provide approximately 4.68 mi. of fire breaks

2. Promote access & connectivity -Create circulation routes that reach the majority of the places of interest -Retain use 25% of the site during flood events -Provide one additional entry points

3. Produce a native ecosystem

-Increase native vegetation by 15% -Eliminate invasive Tamarix spp. (tamarisk tree) in specific locations, approximately .5 sq. miles -Protect endangered species -Utilize all effluent water for irrigation & restoration

4. Provide flood control strategies -Define flood zones to reduce impacts to the town of Kearny -Regrade golf course to accommodate 200 year floods -Protect Kearny's assets and development from 200 year flood events

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Assessments Analysis Flood History

This analysis shows the 50 and 100 year flood control area.

Unfortunately, the southern part of Kearny is in that area. This area consists of an airport, a golf course, mobile homes, baseball fields, and land used for agriculture. The analysis shows the three main washes connected to the flood zone and where there is high water density in the soil. The 100 year study reveals that the train track is a high point and protects most of Kearny from seasonal floods. The darkest green area represents the area able to hold the most water and the lightest green represents the area able to hold the least. This greatly influenced the location of the wetlands in 26 the master plan.

Fire History

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This analysis shows the 2015 fire in the second darkest green as well as the fire that occurred in 2013 in the lightest green. The overlapping area is shown in the darkest green. City officials believe that the fire that occurred in 2015 was human caused. That fire severely damaged the woody wetlands, a riparian land cover class consisting of mostly tamarisk with a few cottonwoods, willows and mesquites.

Tamarisk have the ability to grow back after severely being burnt and that's exactly what happened to the areas burned in the 2015 and 2013 fires. Many residents have even gone as far as removing the burnt tamarisk trees to prevent them from sprouting again. Tamarisk are thick and can thrive in dry conditions which makes them more flammable than native species.

Green Infrastructure

This analysis shows areas with low, medium and high water percolation. The area with the least percolation are in the darker green while the area with more percolation is shown in the lighter green. The areas with less percolation are closer to the water table and are more likely to have dense riparian vegetation. Areas with more percolation are likely to have Sonoran Upland vegetation.

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Composite

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The composite analysis shows the most sensitive area in dark green and the least sensitive area in the lightest green. The most sensitive areas have the greatest importance because existing wildlife and plants depend on it to survive. That area also possesses the highest biodiversity and highest density of vegetation. Restoring these areas will restore ecological function to the Gila River corridor and connect missing habitat links in the area. Tamarisk are able to out-compete native riparian vegetation because they don't require lots of water to germinate and are more suited to deal with the dry condition near the Gila River. If the hydrology of the Gila River was never altered from addition of the dam to the south, Native riparian vegetation would have the advantage.

Case Studies Water Works Park - Des Moines, Iowa

This project did not just require a collaborative effort by the firms involved. It required Landscape Architects and Ecologists to collaborate to revamp this park as well. The major problems with the old park was the excess nitrogen from farms running down the Raccoon River, and floods.

Their solution was to add ponds connected to the river to the existing gallery pipe 20 feet below the aquifer. This reduces the nitrogen load and control floods by diverting water through the gallery pipe and to the ponds. This park also includes areas for tents, fishing, picnics, canoeing.

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Yanweizhou Park - Jinhua City, China

This project worked with Flood control instead of working against. This design consisted of terraced landscape, permeable surfaces, and native vegetation. This design also features a colorful bridge that is high enough withstand 200 year floods. This design takes advantage of existing conditions to create a minimal impact and creates food sources for birds and other wildlife.

Case Study III

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A Seed For Change - ASU Graduate Student

This design features circulation, recreation, residential, and agricultural elements near the Gila River. This design also proposes better water management. The system in this project involves 3 steps. They are seep, soak, and wash. This project is a great example of a creative solution that accommodates a more efficient and sustainable to treat native american land and benefit the community.

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Provide non motorized circulation systems all along south of Kearny

Encourage pedestrian and bike movement through the expansion of trails Control vehicular circulation through controlled access points

ATV Park located south of Kearny lake

Provide salt cedar free area and, create an action plan for the extraction of the salt cedar in the perimeters of the salt cedar free area to be sold as fire wood.

Recreate wetlands

Propose residential expansion on the west side of town

Historical Riparian / Sonoran dry agriculture educational walk site.

Reinforce the hangar (water tight)

Vegetation flood control berm surrounding south site of the train track developed area

Redesign existing golf course in order to work as an flood mitigation site.

Provide & improve view sheds (Ex. Flood zone, bird watching, scenic views)

Clear and enhance existing beaches

Develop primary trailhead next to the Kearny Lake

Designate swimming areas along the two beaches of the Gila River

Designate fishing locations along the existing enhanced lake

Reforest the area surrounding Kearny Lake with shade trees/native vegetation and water filtering plant species.

Redirect water from upstream washes towards the Kearny Lake for new vegetative growth and flood control management

Canalize affluent water to the Kearny Lake

Provide 1 designated entry point to the Gila River including (existing, relocated and new)

Strategies

Evaluation Plan

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Goal 3 - Promote access Goal 4 - Produce a native to areas surrounding ecosystem Kearny Obj 1 Obj 2 Obj 3 Obj 1 Obj 2 Obj 3

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Goal 2 - Protect & improve the economy through recreation innovations Obj 1 Obj 2 Obj 3 Obj 4

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Goal 1 - Prevent wildfires

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Goal 5 - Provide flood control strategies

Residents will be encouraged to swim in safer areas during certain times of the day

Endangered fish species such as the Gila Chub will not be threatened

Shade will be provided to people walking or biking along the trail. The parking lot and camping spaces will also be shaded.

The water in the Kearny Lake will be circulated allowing fish to thrive.

This area will be designated for fishing

The water in the Kearny Lake will be circulated allowing fish to thrive

There will be one additional entry point to reach the Gila River

Results

The residents and visitors will have access to recovery nodes that also function as view sheds

Natural wetlands will aid in flood control efforts

The residents will enjoy more natural area with cottonwoods and willows.

The town of Kearny will grow and be able to house additional residents

Residents and visitors will learn about the historic value of the Gila River and dry agriculture

Planes stored in the hangar will be protected from floods

The town of Kearny will be protected from floods

Implementation of fire breaks

Implementation of fire breaks

Connect high school to river with educational trail walk.

The residents of Kearny will enjoy active recreation

High Schoolers will be encouraged to walk or bike to school To minimize the environmental impact of laying asphalt, only certain areas will be paved

This recreation will encourage seasonal events that are more Develop 5 miles of track space dedicated to inclusive towards the younger population ATV off-roading as recreation

Propose an addition of 15 acres along highway

Cut salt cedar from approximately .5 sq. miles of land surrounding town

Propose and addition 150 housing units

Dedicate approximately 140 acres located southwest of town along Gila River

Seal structure to not allow water to penetrate

Build 2700' long berm protecting Kearny development south of railroad.

Regarded golf course to function as a The golf course will be able to hold retention basin & hold approx. 40% of water more water and protect areas up held on site north from floods

Provide pavilions from which residents can watch flood events above flood zone at 1900'

The residents and visitor will enjoy Implement maintenance of area & provides trash free beaches that allow them tree shades areas with multiple designated to appreciate the beauty of the Gila River gathering areas

People camping or parking nearby Provide trailhead entry facility and amenities for seasonal events will have (Eg. Restrooms, water fountains, etc.) showers and restrooms

Provide 1000 linear ft. of designated swimming areas

Provide 2 fishing decks around lake

Provide 50% tree canopy with low water usage native species

Drag washes towards Kearny Town Lake

Pump from water plant

Locate based on appropriateness & need for location

Methods

Workshop Findings The town of Kearny held a workshop so the students could gather data and ask questions to the city officials, stakeholders, and citizens.

Group 3 chose to gather data with maps. The following maps below display their findings in a composite form.

Land Use This map shows existing and future land use in a composite form. This map also shows that is a large demand for recreation, preservation and other activities along the river.

Flood and Fire This map shows where floods and fires have been. The map indicates that the railway running through Kearny divides the "safe area" and the more hazardous area.

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The stakeholders and residents who attended the workshop enjoyed using markers to map land uses and circulation and wax to map flood and fire hazards. They were also able to use pins to map their points of interest, favorite places and access points.

Composite Tac Map This map displays points of interest in yellow, access points in green, and favorite places in red. It consisted of 126 pins.

This map consists of 126 colored pins

-37% were placed along Gila River -23% were placed along trails

-12% were placed near Kearny Lake

Circulation

High Intensity Medium Intensity Low Intensity

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This map shows roads and trails that the citizens present at the workshop said that they used. The red symbolizes routes with the heaviest use while green has the least.

Master Plan This master plan design provides a balance between the restoration & recreational use for the residents of Kearny. The outcome is a design that provides functional and practical solutions primarily for flood control and fire mitigation.

Design Strategies/Recommendations

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Detailed Wetlands Plan

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Ephemeral Wetlands

Riparian Wetlands

The design of the wetlands works with nature by following existing water flow patterns. This wetland is designed to slow water down, spread it out, and sink it in also allowing vegetation to thrive.

The proposed flood control system is situated at the heart of all recreation systems. The wetlands accommodate different flood elevations. This allows the pools numbered 1 to flood first and the pools numbered 4 to flood last.

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Flood Control

20 Year Flood

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40 Year Flood

Most of the wetlands are filled

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60 Year Flood

Wetland is completely full.

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80 Year Flood

The wetlands will overflow and water will cover most of the airstrip, while also getting close to the berm that protects the existing development.

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100 Year Flood

Everything south of the railroad is flooded except for the existing development protected by the vegetated berm.

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Berm Observation area

30 Year Flood This section shows the most frequently flooded areas

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Redesigned golf course

60 Year Flood Upgraded existing wetlands

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100 Year Flood This section shows the full system at its full capacity and how it protects the existing development south of the railroad.

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Fire Breaks Existing Condition

12’ ATV Path

12’ ATV Path

Tamarisk Site

Currently, Four wheelers roam through areas filled with tamarisk.

Following the fire in 2015 many residents cleared out the burnt tamarisk trees near the town to prevent future fires from getting too close to the town. This land can be utilized as a fire break.

Proposed Condition

40’ ATV Path

40’ Equestrian & Walking Trail

Restoration

200’ Fire Break

Using the 200 feet of land that has already been cleared out. The town can designate a ATV Path away from the restoration area while adding buffers of succulents and cacti that are resistant to fires. This design uses both high and low impact circulation as a "fail-safe". In the event that the succulents and cacti burn and aren't replaced the trails and paths will still stop fires. An equestrian & walking trail is 46 also included within close proximity to the restoration site.

Perspectives

This is a view from the main observation area presenting the more lush wetlands. These pools are the first to flood during storms.

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This is a view looking west at the riparian wetlands. Residents will be able to fish here because the stable water level throughout the year.

This wetland will also serve as a habitat to many keystone species as well.

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Evaluation & Action Plans Priorities and Timeline Phases High Priority Remove Tamarisk Trees 10-15 years -use of bulldozers or manual removal -using environmentally friendly pesticides to slowly kill tamarisk -await the arrival of the tamarisk beetle to help aid other processes Flood Control 15-25 years -add berms to protect the existing development south of the railroad -wetlands will allow excess water to percolate -riparian wetlands will be the first area to flood during flood events Fire Breaks 10-15years -create a barrier to prevent future fires from going near the town -the moisture from the wetlands will aid in fire prevention Medium Priority Access -add trails (pedestrian and ATV) -add entry points Trail head and Parking ADA Accessibility

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5-10 years

10-12 years 5 years

Low Priority Observation Points

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10 years

Mountain Biking Trails

15-20 years

Lake Pier

20-30 years

Gila River Bridge

13-15 years

Greenhouse

13-15 years

Responsible Parties

Town of Kearny Kearny, Arizona

Winkelman Natural Resource Conservation District

American Smelting and Refining Company

ASU Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts

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Funding Sources

Bonneville Environmental Foundation

Charlotte Martin Foundation

Wilburforce Foundation

North American Wetlands Conservation ACT (NAWCA)

William and Flora Hewlett Foundation

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Native Plant Conservation Initiative (NPCI)

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 52