Implementation of Channel Rehabilitation on Hoopa Reservation Funding Year 2015

Fiscal Year 2015 funding was used to complete major construction, wood placement and planting of riparian areas - which commenced with Supply Creek Major Construction Phases 1 and 2. In this phase of the project (Phase 3), new channel and floodplain construction, plus wood placement took place in the reach between Highway 96 and Loop Road. Also, final touches to Phase 2 construction were made, via wood placement and riparian planting. Hoopa Valley Tribal Fisheries Department (HVTFD) completed this tributary enhancement project to improve fish and identified priority riparian habitat along Supply Creek located within the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation. Proposed project was to include restoration on Mill Creek, however FY2015 funds were expended solely on construction at Supply Creek as Mill Creek designs remained in negotiations between Tribal Fisheries, Hoopa Tribal Council and community landowners adjacent to Mill Creek project site.

This project was implemented according to the design developed (design and report have been provided to NOAA Fisheries staff) by the Hoopa Valley Tribe, McBain Associates, and Stillwater Sciences. The designs for Supply Creek helped to initiate recovery from stream channelization and levee confinement that occurred after the 1964 flood. The project prioritized habitat improvement restoration actions as described in the Southern Oregon Northern California Coho Salmon Recovery Plan. The project was completed in accordance with goals, objectives, activities and methods as outlined in the proposal. Funds from FY2015 award were utilized to complete one phase (between Highway 96 bridge and the downstream terminus of the constructed side-channel pond) of this multi-year project which will result in construction of meanders, levee setbacks and floodplain re-connection along Supply Creek between Highway 96 bridge to a point approximately 0.7 miles upstream.

Streamside levees were either eliminated entirely, or carved back to afford channel meandering across newly-constructed floodplains extending up to 120 feet from centerline of pre-existing (channelized) thalweg. In several locations, initial meanders were constructed in accordance with radius of curvature estimates derived from airphoto time series. In addition, a new side channel of 0.36 miles in length was constructed alongside an unaltered reach of mainstem Supply Creek; this feature included several large wood placements, some with large boulder ballast, and an interconnected pond (0.09 miles in length) providing over-wintering habitat for SONCC coho. Ultimately, native riparian vegetation was planted throughout the restoration project, and then irrigated using post-FY2015 PCSRF funds.

Coho salmon rearing habitat is limited within the Trinity River watershed so actions that enhance habitat are critical for species recovery. Supply Creek is also used by other species vital to the Hoopas tribal trust fishery (Chinook salmon, lamprey and steelhead trout). Adult (spawning survey) and juvenile outmigrant data exist as a result of long-term monitoring projects funded by PCSRF since 2000.
Project implementation resulted in immediate short-term habitat creation and support long-term natural physical and biological stream processes. This project resulted in removal of channelization and levees to reconnect Supply Creek to a restored floodplain.

The goal of the project is to implement two restoration projects to improve anadromous fish habitat on streams located on the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation and implement priority actions outlined in the Southern Oregon Northern California Coho Salmon Recovery Plan.

Project objectives are to implement two construction projects to enhance fish habitat at Mill and Supply Creek.

Project Activities and Methods: The Hoopa Valley Tribal Roads Department will implement the Mill and Supply Creek Restoration Projects as outlined in the design documentation provided to NOAA Fisheries. Oversight and project management would be provided by Hoopa Tribal Fisheries, NMFS, Trinity Valley Consulting Engineers, McBain Associates, and CDFW staff.