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6782163 
Journal Article 
ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT, RESTORATION, AND MONITORING FOR PERFORMANCE BASED RESULTS IN THE FISH CREEK WATERSHED IN NORTHEASTERN INDIANA AND NORTHWESTERN OHIO, USA 
Simon, TP; Campbell-Allison, J; Sparks, DW; Clark, F; Altfater, D; Tosick, MJ; Smith, JR; Faatz, W; Draper, J; Warner, BA; Wodrich, C; Remek, A; , 
2010 
NOVA SCIENCE PUBLISHERS, INC 
HAUPPAUGE 
STREAM RESTORATION: HALTING DISTURBANCES, ASSISTED RECOVERY AND MANAGED RECOVERY 
111-147 
WOS:000284287400004 
The rupture of an oil pipeline on September 15, 1993, spilled over 30,000 gallons of #2 diesel fuel oil into a field that emptied into Fish Creek, Northeastern Indiana, USA and affected the lower seven miles of stream. This spill occurred upstream of the last remaining population of the White Cat's Paw Pearly mussel (Epioblasma obiquata perobliqua), a Federally Endangered mussel species. The action caused the federal and state governments to enter into a Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA), which resulted in a $2.5 million settlement. The restoration of Fish Creek began in 1996 with the development of an adaptive management plan that was based on structured decision making. The framing of the restoration strategy enabled a variety of inputs from state, federal, and not-for-profit entities to be involved; however, the implementation of the strategy was done in 1996 by the Natural Resource Trustees. A variety of conventional best management practices were used to protect priority areas designated within the stream. Biological planning and hypothesis based assumptions were developed and monitored using a variety of biological indicators. Monitoring was conducted at 12 locations biannually and included prespill baseline surveys conducted in 1991 and 1992. Restoration of site specific changes were monitored using a watershed scale. Conservation management measures included tree plantings, purchase of conservation easements, creation of shallow water wetlands, and fencing of livestock from the stream. A time series assessment found that monitoring for recovery showed a decreasing biological integrity trend with additional protection and enhancement needed in upper Fish Creek. Mussel assemblage condition is declining in the middle Fish Creek; however, recovery to prespill conditions has been observed for the watershed scale especially in the lower river. Improvement is needed in the upper portions of the watershed and perhaps a two-stage ditch process, which includes a 3:1 bench for high flow relief, may improve habitat condition for aquatic organisms. The two-stage ditch is showing promise as a practice that reduces nutrients in the water column and controls 30% of nitrogen and phosphorus and controls sedimentation and erosion from adjacent bank sloughing. 
Hayes, GD; Flores, TS; 
978-1-60876-450-1